I DO NOT KNOW if yeyo bonjour, my unauthorized biographer, follower, nemesis and well intended bizarro bloguer, has anything to do with this, but some how, yours truly has no more fans looking at his profile. As you know that is a way of measuring popularity.
At least this tool is not working. That is the conspiracy theory.
Another way to keep statistics as to the effectiveness between subject and reader
perception is the comments section in most blogs. I wonder why some authorities
in their own minds have blogs without this feature. At least one should bother reading the feedback with the exceptions made as is our case. One has a daily reader, unwelcome and all. The blog is like some churches.
On the other hand, when I visit blogs that are really something horticulturally, there is a tendency in other blogs as well: inane, impressionistic, adolescent like comments.
Often evading the subject at hand and sticking to the photos or videos or whatever gimmick is deemed necessary to express concepts when one lacks words or ways of
expression. Why should I have videos about gardening? Or politics? To express
better what I have no skills to do? For minusvalid readers?
The truth is that once upon a time there was some silly pride on those numbers and conscious/unconscious comparing with other blogs. Those that stink and those remarkable in India and Australia, for some unknown reason the most complete,
informative blogs in horticulture. Needless to say from in our third person world
wide known humble opinion.
THE OTHER possibility is that GOD wants to teach me a lesson in humility. Not knowing if any curious virtual reader looks at my profile, inquires as to the mental health of whom writes, either one goes nuts or proceed with equal enthusiasm, energy, same
grammar/parragraph construction and kicking butts. Insular and continental ones.
ONE thing I tell you. I am learning to tolerate the character, YEYO BONJOUR, who
took as nick the nominative of a central figure in the first or second best written novel in our language. The hilarious thing is that this respectable gentleperson, anyone is,
in certain circles,(even if you have been caught money laundering), believes and has expressed a hundred times, censored criticism as to my credentials, ego, writing in general just because my messages poorly written were thought as personal.
Sorry pal. If you feel pleasure coming to this blog in a daily fashion to express ideas with scorn in reaction to mine, I tell you this: as soon as YEYO BONJOUR appears on screen they are erased. I confess it is a pity. Those illusions of grandeur being wasted
to humanity, insular, that is. Suggestion: Go to your blog, which has been read by six people two of whom was I, and write: Censored Comments: WHAT endemismotrasnochado REFUSES TO READ DEARING NOT TO REACT.(sorry I will
not promote that opus). That may help your ego. It was dead until I sent that message to Yasmin or Yasmir or whatever
the hell his name is about the picture of uneven turf in your web site lifetime masterpiece.
That is what motivated you to harrass daily, to stalk this humble character. But I have to thank you. Being humble, not on a joking mode, is something intelligent people should aspire to be. For one simple reason. It attracts rather than repel, it
generates good energy. One in turn shows the best one has to offer. However endemismotrasnochado is about being critical. Our vocation.
We are not to make friends, groupies, and so on. Only HORTICULTURE, the planet,
habitats matters. Being a particle of dust, we come from it.
When we die only plants and trees planted will remain. Even memories
of yours truly in some other minds will fade, becoming water and salt. NOW,
yeyo bonjour/ screw yourself.
Note: I do not read your blog since it is a bizarro reflection of mine. On the other
hand you have no profile...I wonder why. jaha bilingual laugh. I would prefer if you stop inviting me there. When I want a reflection I look at the mirror.
Another note: To those other visitors, my apolygies if by any chance these words
look like: A letter to yeyo, caught in his spider web, looking for acceptance.
martes, 31 de marzo de 2009
lunes, 30 de marzo de 2009
THEY HAVE EYES BUT UNABLE TO SEE
ELEPHANT ears but unable to listen.. Yesterday was islander blog visiting amusement day.
And what fun...it was. The big news, somewhat sad, considering the nothingness
island, besides dancing, bottles and cards. Such national pride defeating USA in a childish ball game at a moment when it meant nothing for the prize. Flag flaunting and drum roll... But not one of our dead brain analysts commented on what trascends. The sport created, developed by USA is now dominated by a former declared war enemy and another part of a country in a non declared war, not far in that region. Japan/Korea.
But this is endemismotrasnochado. Not far from the residence of the Lesperians
Matriarch, in Rio Piedras, there is a Plaza. Four/five months ago there was some buzzing about trees to be destroyed, uprooted with the permits that 007 Recursos
Naturales had given to the construction company.
The bored, pure minded, unselfish students without much background in either
arboriculture or being able to identify these species of trees sentenced to death,
chained themselves to the fences and gate. The printed news media, television, and
radio jumped into the opportunity to go out and enjoy the scenery.
Oh what a crime to kill these beautiful trees! They purify our air, offer shade, allow
housing for the birds and so on.. The usual dull, lame argument to protect trees in
this neck of the woods.
Well virtual reader, I call it as I see it. These Mahogany trees had been mutilated by
machetes for decades, some look like shit, having lost their architecture. The worst looking ones are a couple of Ficus in what could be described as some kind of chained
gang punishment. One or both, are tied up with one inch diameter metal wires to the ground as if to stop them from running away. They look like crap. Not to get into the
apparent root rot showing in the few branches left with leaves. These trees are in front of the church in Rio Piedras. Soon to be known as RIO, you know as in Rio de Janeiro. Rio, Pais de Caguas, Porta del Sol...we exude original, really original marketing skills when trying to reinvent ourselves....
So what? Well when one starts hollering wolf, one should take a walk around the premises creating such havoc. What did I find? The mahogany trees 'saved' by the public uproar, ucares, and every one else are now sentenced to a certain cruel, slow death. THE self proclaimed tree saviors have not noticed that the construction company has destroyed a third or more of the root ball/system of the trees still standing! The roots have been cut to build the stairs and concrete paths.
That is why this blog continues preaching in the desert. Without any lost focus. The environment should not be treated as a pet when one is bored. I find repugnant posing for protagonist roles without any honest belief/understanding of
the preaching. What is the point of this ridiculous petition to save trees when they are being destroyed daily, differently, in your face? And you do not see it? Lets get the one thousand
Final words. All these reminds me of a gossip pioneer in Puerto Rico. Mirta Silva, a talented singer/composer with a forgotten trayectory in Cuban/Puerto Rican music.
One of her promos in her tv show:' For the tourist, you are Puerto Rico'. From the concrete/asphalt isle of the Enchantment? This is Antigonum Cajan reporting. Back to you in the studio.. Until next...
Bonus: After I signed the petition, shortly afterward, more than one spam notices
arrived as butterflies in the spring. Beware....
And what fun...it was. The big news, somewhat sad, considering the nothingness
island, besides dancing, bottles and cards. Such national pride defeating USA in a childish ball game at a moment when it meant nothing for the prize. Flag flaunting and drum roll... But not one of our dead brain analysts commented on what trascends. The sport created, developed by USA is now dominated by a former declared war enemy and another part of a country in a non declared war, not far in that region. Japan/Korea.
But this is endemismotrasnochado. Not far from the residence of the Lesperians
Matriarch, in Rio Piedras, there is a Plaza. Four/five months ago there was some buzzing about trees to be destroyed, uprooted with the permits that 007 Recursos
Naturales had given to the construction company.
The bored, pure minded, unselfish students without much background in either
arboriculture or being able to identify these species of trees sentenced to death,
chained themselves to the fences and gate. The printed news media, television, and
radio jumped into the opportunity to go out and enjoy the scenery.
Oh what a crime to kill these beautiful trees! They purify our air, offer shade, allow
housing for the birds and so on.. The usual dull, lame argument to protect trees in
this neck of the woods.
Well virtual reader, I call it as I see it. These Mahogany trees had been mutilated by
machetes for decades, some look like shit, having lost their architecture. The worst looking ones are a couple of Ficus in what could be described as some kind of chained
gang punishment. One or both, are tied up with one inch diameter metal wires to the ground as if to stop them from running away. They look like crap. Not to get into the
apparent root rot showing in the few branches left with leaves. These trees are in front of the church in Rio Piedras. Soon to be known as RIO, you know as in Rio de Janeiro. Rio, Pais de Caguas, Porta del Sol...we exude original, really original marketing skills when trying to reinvent ourselves....
So what? Well when one starts hollering wolf, one should take a walk around the premises creating such havoc. What did I find? The mahogany trees 'saved' by the public uproar, ucares, and every one else are now sentenced to a certain cruel, slow death. THE self proclaimed tree saviors have not noticed that the construction company has destroyed a third or more of the root ball/system of the trees still standing! The roots have been cut to build the stairs and concrete paths.
That is why this blog continues preaching in the desert. Without any lost focus. The environment should not be treated as a pet when one is bored. I find repugnant posing for protagonist roles without any honest belief/understanding of
the preaching. What is the point of this ridiculous petition to save trees when they are being destroyed daily, differently, in your face? And you do not see it? Lets get the one thousand
signatures and then what? Are you well intended, goody/goody villagers planning to place some sort of bronze plaque to remember those trees killed, mutilated while collecting signatures?
dedicate this plaque to all those
fallen right away uprooted
and those with a death
sentence without
necessary roots
What about the future ones?WE LESPERIANS ENVIRONMENT
CRUSADERSdedicate this plaque to all those
fallen right away uprooted
and those with a death
sentence without
necessary roots
Final words. All these reminds me of a gossip pioneer in Puerto Rico. Mirta Silva, a talented singer/composer with a forgotten trayectory in Cuban/Puerto Rican music.
One of her promos in her tv show:' For the tourist, you are Puerto Rico'. From the concrete/asphalt isle of the Enchantment? This is Antigonum Cajan reporting. Back to you in the studio.. Until next...
Bonus: After I signed the petition, shortly afterward, more than one spam notices
arrived as butterflies in the spring. Beware....
domingo, 29 de marzo de 2009
OF MINES OIL PINGUINS TIGERS AND WHALES
I BECAME a little irritated yesterday. While watching some television documentary about everything you can and can not imagine that men, (sorry feminists) have done
to the Humboldt penguins, something hit me with some tenderness as opposed to
lightning. It seems that environmentalists have some affection, without any type
of curbed enthusiasm for whales, tigers, gorillas, elephants and our dear penguins.
By the way the latter are strict disciplinarians. One watches with some pity the destiny of those pinguin chicks getting lost in their way home. Adult penguins beat the crap out of them, until they are found by parents or killed.
Perhaps the ones with better press are these huge water mammals or any other aquatic relative with their beauty and symmetry, elegance while in the water. However, rarely one will find a documentary explaining the point of saving these creatures
from whale meat loving peoples and avaricious fish mongers, so they can procreate and live in contaminated oceans with plastic and many other harmfull substances too long to enumerate here.
With elephants the issue is a little more complicated. They eat a lot, their turds are tokens. Trees are not exempted from their appetite. A forest disappears after a while with the population increase of these animals. The solution in Zinbawe and similar regions in Africa? Shoot them, one, two hundred at a time. Instead of selective killing to use the
meat among the natives and aboriginals with the proper gastronomy to prepare it.ns. This method of control is more intelligent for the environment, keeps the habitat for everyone else from being totally destroyed, avoiding the waste of killing all
those animals at once without any benefit except for vultures and others in charge of cleaning the mess.
With tigers the story will be short. They could kill people, they do. Their habitat, for example in India, get smaller and smaller. I see the future for this kind of animal only
in a zoo, or whatever is they call themselves now. It is very simple, people will continue to have sex with babies later. The earth does not get any bigger. Tigers will have to go.
Endemismotrasnochado and the relevance of all this? Apparently the equation is
simple. Everything on EARTH seems to be habitat related. You destroy the habitat
for one species and the whole system comes crumbling down. Which brings me to
what really moved me to write this.
MINING. Nothing besides logging industries, oil refineries, nuclear energy, chemical industry and construction developers destroy the earth with the speed and size of most mining: copper, aluminum and steel on the ground surface.
Coal, gold, diamond, emeralds destroy the earth in similar ways on the surface or underground. Yet no one seems concerned. For every one hundred documentaries
about the few animals discussed here arbitrarily, one may get a chance to see one
documentary about the remarkable destruction of the planet by mining companies.
When are we going to watch the hundred of species in the verge of destruction by
mining? It seems that destruction of aquatic species have more weight and relevance than those in soil; much closer to us, non lovers of water sports.
to the Humboldt penguins, something hit me with some tenderness as opposed to
lightning. It seems that environmentalists have some affection, without any type
of curbed enthusiasm for whales, tigers, gorillas, elephants and our dear penguins.
By the way the latter are strict disciplinarians. One watches with some pity the destiny of those pinguin chicks getting lost in their way home. Adult penguins beat the crap out of them, until they are found by parents or killed.
Perhaps the ones with better press are these huge water mammals or any other aquatic relative with their beauty and symmetry, elegance while in the water. However, rarely one will find a documentary explaining the point of saving these creatures
from whale meat loving peoples and avaricious fish mongers, so they can procreate and live in contaminated oceans with plastic and many other harmfull substances too long to enumerate here.
With elephants the issue is a little more complicated. They eat a lot, their turds are tokens. Trees are not exempted from their appetite. A forest disappears after a while with the population increase of these animals. The solution in Zinbawe and similar regions in Africa? Shoot them, one, two hundred at a time. Instead of selective killing to use the
meat among the natives and aboriginals with the proper gastronomy to prepare it.ns. This method of control is more intelligent for the environment, keeps the habitat for everyone else from being totally destroyed, avoiding the waste of killing all
those animals at once without any benefit except for vultures and others in charge of cleaning the mess.
With tigers the story will be short. They could kill people, they do. Their habitat, for example in India, get smaller and smaller. I see the future for this kind of animal only
in a zoo, or whatever is they call themselves now. It is very simple, people will continue to have sex with babies later. The earth does not get any bigger. Tigers will have to go.
Endemismotrasnochado and the relevance of all this? Apparently the equation is
simple. Everything on EARTH seems to be habitat related. You destroy the habitat
for one species and the whole system comes crumbling down. Which brings me to
what really moved me to write this.
MINING. Nothing besides logging industries, oil refineries, nuclear energy, chemical industry and construction developers destroy the earth with the speed and size of most mining: copper, aluminum and steel on the ground surface.
Coal, gold, diamond, emeralds destroy the earth in similar ways on the surface or underground. Yet no one seems concerned. For every one hundred documentaries
about the few animals discussed here arbitrarily, one may get a chance to see one
documentary about the remarkable destruction of the planet by mining companies.
When are we going to watch the hundred of species in the verge of destruction by
mining? It seems that destruction of aquatic species have more weight and relevance than those in soil; much closer to us, non lovers of water sports.
viernes, 27 de marzo de 2009
THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THESE FLOWERS
IN THE SAME ORDER of appearance. Turnera subulata. The first time I got a glimpse of this
low spread growing bush, took place in a "Botanical Garden" in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. It
was laying flat on the ground. Some pedestrian had stepped on it. Took it home thinking I would be able to propagate it, a mistake as time proved. More recently, a couple of months perhaps while on a visit to some relatives with clear tendencies towards gluttony, I noticed this Turnera, (no longer in nurseries), asked for a few cut stems and there you have it. I left the stems in water until a significant amount of roots developed. Now you see it...
The botanical is in quotes because they say they have about two hundred species of whatever but they are not identified. There is excessive turf/grass with the known consequences for the
environment. The entrance itself does not resemble one for a botanical but for a hotel in el Condado. This creates certain doubts as to the credentials not only of the scientists studying
there but of the poor souls with a machete and a trimmer keeping the maintenance up. If you check the green houses...unlike the New York Botanical, you find weeds growing in the pots, but not as in an experiment...Just nothingness going on.
PINK Frangipani was given as a birthday present. I would not have bought it since it shows signs of either mutilation or having had some seasons as a bonsai. The architecture
was destroyed, however the fragrance and beauty of the flowers compensate all my criticism.
In the pot keeping it company, there is also an orchid and a Burleria repens, making this arrangement one of the most original in the collection.
YELLOW frangipani, was taken in the yard of a hamburger joint no longer in business in El
Condado area of San Juan eight years ago. It was cut and planted without rooting hormones.
I have rarely used them in the past but believe with some difficult things such as Bouganvillea and Allamanda is wise to use them. The smell of all Frangipanis is subtle and different, after a while you could tell white from yellow from pink.
DK purple flower. It was a present from my sister. Apparently is grows wild in some regions
of Puerto Rico. I have seen it only twice outside my garden. In my sister's and some country
forest area towards Cayey. This one is from seeds, but could be propagated just like the Subulata. I do not think the shape and form of this bush is that hot, honestly, but the flowers create some leverage between one thing and the other.
COSMOS. I found the botanical name in seed catalog. Here is known as Panchita. I have never been seen in nurseries. In the last seven years it has been sighted perhaps six times. Once
in the front garden in some house and the rest in wild areas, at the edges of roads. I have
planted a yellow variety and some dwarf varities from a catalog from a USA company. Excellent to create the meadow/prairy atmosphere if you are into that bag. However, you should know that as with anything self seeding it could cover a lot of court and take your
garden. A favorite of bees.
TURNERA ulmifolia,( along with the diffusa) not shown here is the number one course of
the traveling bees arriving in the early morning. The difference between these twins of
favorite bushes is in the elongated leave of the second. The flowers do not show much
difference. They propagate from seeds or stem cuts in water. Self seeding and could as Cosmos take over the place. Spindalis, a handsome bird love and eat their seeds.
DK red flowers are the biggest attraction for Spindalis and Hummingbirds. This short spreading bush was a gift, bought in a nursery. Have only seen it in some
documentary from Costa Rica. The names of this two dks eventually will be known.
Hope you enjoyed as I have.. one thing left out. Frangipanis in Puerto Rico are pretty much into anarchy, they flower when they please, drop their leaves in the same fashion. Yoy may
walk five hundred meters and find one (mostly white) with leaves and flowers, move further
down and find one with just leaves and so on...One thing is certain soon or later all will be visited by beatiful black with green stripes across by segments caterpillars. They will munch non stop until there is nothing left. Be careful if still hungry they will eat the tips of the branches destroying them permanently. Remove them, placing them on the ground somewhere. They will rest until (you know the drill) waking up later as a butterfly. One last thing is rust, an ugly, not pleasant disease on the leaves, but not damaging except for the aesthetics....
Until next.
low spread growing bush, took place in a "Botanical Garden" in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. It
was laying flat on the ground. Some pedestrian had stepped on it. Took it home thinking I would be able to propagate it, a mistake as time proved. More recently, a couple of months perhaps while on a visit to some relatives with clear tendencies towards gluttony, I noticed this Turnera, (no longer in nurseries), asked for a few cut stems and there you have it. I left the stems in water until a significant amount of roots developed. Now you see it...
The botanical is in quotes because they say they have about two hundred species of whatever but they are not identified. There is excessive turf/grass with the known consequences for the
environment. The entrance itself does not resemble one for a botanical but for a hotel in el Condado. This creates certain doubts as to the credentials not only of the scientists studying
there but of the poor souls with a machete and a trimmer keeping the maintenance up. If you check the green houses...unlike the New York Botanical, you find weeds growing in the pots, but not as in an experiment...Just nothingness going on.
PINK Frangipani was given as a birthday present. I would not have bought it since it shows signs of either mutilation or having had some seasons as a bonsai. The architecture
was destroyed, however the fragrance and beauty of the flowers compensate all my criticism.
In the pot keeping it company, there is also an orchid and a Burleria repens, making this arrangement one of the most original in the collection.
YELLOW frangipani, was taken in the yard of a hamburger joint no longer in business in El
Condado area of San Juan eight years ago. It was cut and planted without rooting hormones.
I have rarely used them in the past but believe with some difficult things such as Bouganvillea and Allamanda is wise to use them. The smell of all Frangipanis is subtle and different, after a while you could tell white from yellow from pink.
DK purple flower. It was a present from my sister. Apparently is grows wild in some regions
of Puerto Rico. I have seen it only twice outside my garden. In my sister's and some country
forest area towards Cayey. This one is from seeds, but could be propagated just like the Subulata. I do not think the shape and form of this bush is that hot, honestly, but the flowers create some leverage between one thing and the other.
COSMOS. I found the botanical name in seed catalog. Here is known as Panchita. I have never been seen in nurseries. In the last seven years it has been sighted perhaps six times. Once
in the front garden in some house and the rest in wild areas, at the edges of roads. I have
planted a yellow variety and some dwarf varities from a catalog from a USA company. Excellent to create the meadow/prairy atmosphere if you are into that bag. However, you should know that as with anything self seeding it could cover a lot of court and take your
garden. A favorite of bees.
TURNERA ulmifolia,( along with the diffusa) not shown here is the number one course of
the traveling bees arriving in the early morning. The difference between these twins of
favorite bushes is in the elongated leave of the second. The flowers do not show much
difference. They propagate from seeds or stem cuts in water. Self seeding and could as Cosmos take over the place. Spindalis, a handsome bird love and eat their seeds.
DK red flowers are the biggest attraction for Spindalis and Hummingbirds. This short spreading bush was a gift, bought in a nursery. Have only seen it in some
documentary from Costa Rica. The names of this two dks eventually will be known.
Hope you enjoyed as I have.. one thing left out. Frangipanis in Puerto Rico are pretty much into anarchy, they flower when they please, drop their leaves in the same fashion. Yoy may
walk five hundred meters and find one (mostly white) with leaves and flowers, move further
down and find one with just leaves and so on...One thing is certain soon or later all will be visited by beatiful black with green stripes across by segments caterpillars. They will munch non stop until there is nothing left. Be careful if still hungry they will eat the tips of the branches destroying them permanently. Remove them, placing them on the ground somewhere. They will rest until (you know the drill) waking up later as a butterfly. One last thing is rust, an ugly, not pleasant disease on the leaves, but not damaging except for the aesthetics....
Until next.
jueves, 26 de marzo de 2009
SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN HORTICULTURE
I STILL HAVE the first letter written to a local newspaper in the the now baptized
Caguas Country, more ridiculous an idea is hard to find. I denounced the tree topping of some FICUS that had been killed slowly by machete, illiterate, peasants in huge ladders to make to poor trees look like an ice cream cone. The year was 1969.
It was published in 'La Semana', now in the brink of bankrutpcy. Almost two decades later I got the chance/trip to work there as a translator, editor, proof reader, something not evident
here at all times. Things change, my view about writing, editing and all that that is
considered proper is pretty much like a hogs fart. If you can say it better go ahead,
just prettty please with sugar on top, in your own voice.
Do not be a satellite. Be all you can be, in my classical situation a sun. I do not read,
wait for others to write to react. I set the trend. Correctly or incorrectly as you will
see in brief.
The insular, national stupidity wraps all human endeavor in Puerto Rico. I just decided to pick a small token, perhaps the most relevant since we could not survive
without water, air, food. Once in a while I may have made a mistake in form, but not in substance or essential matters as I will demonstrate. If you comment on the first please mention the reference, I will be the judge, of your production.
When stating clearly without any possible rebbuttal the stupidity of planting trees
of humongous proportions with the intention of using them as HEDGES, some criminal environmental company into wasting water in irrigation, polluting our air, water and soil in the planting of grass for sale in rolls/squares, wrote a dissertation about the beauty, pedigree, impressive architecture, monumental quality of the FICUS FAMILY.
When making a couple of comments in some neck of the woods unknown TJ Ranch,
known in his house about the excessive amount of turf shown in the picture of this
resort in the middle of nowhere, someone writes another dissertation defending what no one in their right mind will attempt.
Unless one/you cut the grass with a push mower, or have cattle of any type eating it,
mowing it, you are polluting the environment and wasting water in the process. I do
not care about aesthetics in this regard. NO matter what you write/think/say, it is
backwards to pollute with all the noise involved. Unless used to practice sports there is no need for turf, and even in this context it could be substituted by artificial ones..
If you own a resort, the quiet of surrounding areas should be a good point for sale. Do
not be a jerk please. Just imagine: TJ RANCH, here we do not pollute air, water, soil,
lawn mowing, our cattle does it for us. Or, For the absoulute pleasure of our customers, we have decided to let our grass grow as in
prairies and meadows. Our gardens in turn have been restored, designed accordingly,
for your ear/eyes/nose pleasure. ENJOY!
Developed countries such as USA, CANADA are moving in this direction. It is forbidden to use ALL polluting machines used for landscape management during most hours. The use of fertilizers, herbicides, and such strictly supervised. There is a regulation in many counties demanding to post a sign to ALL neighbors in a specific range, informing date and hours of any herbicide, insecticide spraying 48 hours or less in some instances, to keep pets, children safe. One advantage of such policy is that anyone involved in landscape management is liable for the damages caused by him/her or employees.
Bonus for plant collectors:
Yesterday was stroll designated day.. We saw the usual, uneven sidewalks with craters , roads, garbage in the gutters, sidewalks, alleyways, roofs, abandoned trucks, grass growing as tumble weed in some cowboy/girl abandoned ghost town, in our case with people and cars as residents. You realize if you got this far, what impossible
dream I am engaged into, pretty much like shooting at the windmills with a small UZI.
The discovery of a new plant made the trip enjoyable: Hedera helix growing in the cracks of a wall in the
alleyway of the Santurce Medical Mall. This species is more fond of template climates,
such as in the Ivy League of the northeast USA. One thing I know, I have never seen
it before anywhere, not even in nurseries.. So long...wait...
Everyone judges according to their frame of reference. When polluting with herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers as repeated a hundred times, wasting water from acquifiers to irrigate grass, making a buck here and there,
feeding with minimun salary imported/native hicks, some poor devils may think of themselves as a success, FINE. But not in this parts...
ALL RECENT PHOTOS BY TITO COLLAZO, Graphic Artist, espiral@onelinkpr.net
NOTE: His art work, has nothing to do with views expressed now or in the past. Nor
it implies his agreement with any of them.
Caguas Country, more ridiculous an idea is hard to find. I denounced the tree topping of some FICUS that had been killed slowly by machete, illiterate, peasants in huge ladders to make to poor trees look like an ice cream cone. The year was 1969.
It was published in 'La Semana', now in the brink of bankrutpcy. Almost two decades later I got the chance/trip to work there as a translator, editor, proof reader, something not evident
here at all times. Things change, my view about writing, editing and all that that is
considered proper is pretty much like a hogs fart. If you can say it better go ahead,
just prettty please with sugar on top, in your own voice.
Do not be a satellite. Be all you can be, in my classical situation a sun. I do not read,
wait for others to write to react. I set the trend. Correctly or incorrectly as you will
see in brief.
The insular, national stupidity wraps all human endeavor in Puerto Rico. I just decided to pick a small token, perhaps the most relevant since we could not survive
without water, air, food. Once in a while I may have made a mistake in form, but not in substance or essential matters as I will demonstrate. If you comment on the first please mention the reference, I will be the judge, of your production.
When stating clearly without any possible rebbuttal the stupidity of planting trees
of humongous proportions with the intention of using them as HEDGES, some criminal environmental company into wasting water in irrigation, polluting our air, water and soil in the planting of grass for sale in rolls/squares, wrote a dissertation about the beauty, pedigree, impressive architecture, monumental quality of the FICUS FAMILY.
When making a couple of comments in some neck of the woods unknown TJ Ranch,
known in his house about the excessive amount of turf shown in the picture of this
resort in the middle of nowhere, someone writes another dissertation defending what no one in their right mind will attempt.
Unless one/you cut the grass with a push mower, or have cattle of any type eating it,
mowing it, you are polluting the environment and wasting water in the process. I do
not care about aesthetics in this regard. NO matter what you write/think/say, it is
backwards to pollute with all the noise involved. Unless used to practice sports there is no need for turf, and even in this context it could be substituted by artificial ones..
If you own a resort, the quiet of surrounding areas should be a good point for sale. Do
not be a jerk please. Just imagine: TJ RANCH, here we do not pollute air, water, soil,
lawn mowing, our cattle does it for us. Or, For the absoulute pleasure of our customers, we have decided to let our grass grow as in
prairies and meadows. Our gardens in turn have been restored, designed accordingly,
for your ear/eyes/nose pleasure. ENJOY!
Developed countries such as USA, CANADA are moving in this direction. It is forbidden to use ALL polluting machines used for landscape management during most hours. The use of fertilizers, herbicides, and such strictly supervised. There is a regulation in many counties demanding to post a sign to ALL neighbors in a specific range, informing date and hours of any herbicide, insecticide spraying 48 hours or less in some instances, to keep pets, children safe. One advantage of such policy is that anyone involved in landscape management is liable for the damages caused by him/her or employees.
Bonus for plant collectors:
Yesterday was stroll designated day.. We saw the usual, uneven sidewalks with craters , roads, garbage in the gutters, sidewalks, alleyways, roofs, abandoned trucks, grass growing as tumble weed in some cowboy/girl abandoned ghost town, in our case with people and cars as residents. You realize if you got this far, what impossible
dream I am engaged into, pretty much like shooting at the windmills with a small UZI.
The discovery of a new plant made the trip enjoyable: Hedera helix growing in the cracks of a wall in the
alleyway of the Santurce Medical Mall. This species is more fond of template climates,
such as in the Ivy League of the northeast USA. One thing I know, I have never seen
it before anywhere, not even in nurseries.. So long...wait...
Everyone judges according to their frame of reference. When polluting with herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers as repeated a hundred times, wasting water from acquifiers to irrigate grass, making a buck here and there,
feeding with minimun salary imported/native hicks, some poor devils may think of themselves as a success, FINE. But not in this parts...
ALL RECENT PHOTOS BY TITO COLLAZO, Graphic Artist, espiral@onelinkpr.net
NOTE: His art work, has nothing to do with views expressed now or in the past. Nor
it implies his agreement with any of them.
martes, 24 de marzo de 2009
GUERRILA GARDENING
WITH THE previous experience fresh in my hands, I took the Pandanus to the new home, not far from the previous planted Maguey. This time I brought a pick. The first blow left no doubt, the soil is mostly rocks, stones with a layer of clay hard as hell.
After a few minutes of digging I was able to place this tree, hidden from intruders by
grass, the only other thing growing in this lot, probably property of the agency operating the train system in the metro area of San Juan. The Maguey planted on Saturday is looking great since it has been raining.
Now it will be a matter of luck. If two or three months go by without municipal employees doing their cleaning or gardening tasks or spraying herbicides these two
plants have a great posssibility of making it.
In the home garden three Hibiscus were planted, along with three Polyscias fruticosa
besides the south wall. They will join some Turneras, Mirabilis, Frangipanis, and Arashis hipogea. The endemic Zamia will be moved to a different pot. The Chinese violets, Ipomoeas and a new Turnera are growing fast and healthy.
The following birds were sighted in the last days hanging by the bushes in the back
and front yard: Tiaris bicolor, Quiscalus niger, Eulampis holosericeus, Zenaida Aurita and Coereba Faveola or the popular names: Mozambique/Chango, Zumbador de pecho azul, Tortola cardosantera y Reinita comun.
BONUS FOR 2145 WHO DROPPED BY
WHEN repoting, one should consider the shape of the plant and the form of the pot.
Also the material: metal, plastic, rubber, fiberglass or clay, plus color. Rectangular pots are much elegant than cylindrical, circular ones. It gives formalility to your garden, and allows to place more plants than taller round ones.
It is totally subjective you may think. Perhaps. At any rate, just repoted a ZAMIA from an oval shaped, tall metal pot to a round, wide, flat clay pot.The difference is
impressive, the plant really stands out. It is a total new sight, even though I have had it for five years.
To create original, no found in stores soil... Save the coffee grounds, onion skins, and any others, dog poop, making sure it dries well with lots of sun and heat. I also add
all the leaves, dust that I collect every other day while I sweep the yard. When is ready and dry it becomes one third of the soil in every pot. During the process, always,
the appearance of earth worms does not fail. How these organisms appear out of nowhere I still need to find out...
For those into trivia the first rooting enzimes were cow pies. The cut stems were put
just as with enzimes to be planted later. Time to go..
It has being an intense morning with all the different chores.. And the great feeling of practicing what is preached.
The situation regarding the destruction of the environment has no end. There are
few places to go to do something useful.. The answer? Find a suitable place and
plant whatever suits your needs.. The satisfaction is great. Even if one day you
pass by and notice that all your effort has been destroyed by some callous, indifferent person towards nature. I know, three of my installations were destroyed. In the right side of this blog there are some pictures in front of a house. What you
see is all it was, now is nothing... Memories of beauty and effort.
After a few minutes of digging I was able to place this tree, hidden from intruders by
grass, the only other thing growing in this lot, probably property of the agency operating the train system in the metro area of San Juan. The Maguey planted on Saturday is looking great since it has been raining.
Now it will be a matter of luck. If two or three months go by without municipal employees doing their cleaning or gardening tasks or spraying herbicides these two
plants have a great posssibility of making it.
In the home garden three Hibiscus were planted, along with three Polyscias fruticosa
besides the south wall. They will join some Turneras, Mirabilis, Frangipanis, and Arashis hipogea. The endemic Zamia will be moved to a different pot. The Chinese violets, Ipomoeas and a new Turnera are growing fast and healthy.
The following birds were sighted in the last days hanging by the bushes in the back
and front yard: Tiaris bicolor, Quiscalus niger, Eulampis holosericeus, Zenaida Aurita and Coereba Faveola or the popular names: Mozambique/Chango, Zumbador de pecho azul, Tortola cardosantera y Reinita comun.
BONUS FOR 2145 WHO DROPPED BY
WHEN repoting, one should consider the shape of the plant and the form of the pot.
Also the material: metal, plastic, rubber, fiberglass or clay, plus color. Rectangular pots are much elegant than cylindrical, circular ones. It gives formalility to your garden, and allows to place more plants than taller round ones.
It is totally subjective you may think. Perhaps. At any rate, just repoted a ZAMIA from an oval shaped, tall metal pot to a round, wide, flat clay pot.The difference is
impressive, the plant really stands out. It is a total new sight, even though I have had it for five years.
To create original, no found in stores soil... Save the coffee grounds, onion skins, and any others, dog poop, making sure it dries well with lots of sun and heat. I also add
all the leaves, dust that I collect every other day while I sweep the yard. When is ready and dry it becomes one third of the soil in every pot. During the process, always,
the appearance of earth worms does not fail. How these organisms appear out of nowhere I still need to find out...
For those into trivia the first rooting enzimes were cow pies. The cut stems were put
just as with enzimes to be planted later. Time to go..
It has being an intense morning with all the different chores.. And the great feeling of practicing what is preached.
The situation regarding the destruction of the environment has no end. There are
few places to go to do something useful.. The answer? Find a suitable place and
plant whatever suits your needs.. The satisfaction is great. Even if one day you
pass by and notice that all your effort has been destroyed by some callous, indifferent person towards nature. I know, three of my installations were destroyed. In the right side of this blog there are some pictures in front of a house. What you
see is all it was, now is nothing... Memories of beauty and effort.
sábado, 21 de marzo de 2009
TWO ACTS OF HORTICULTURAL GUERRILLA
YESTERDAY WAS a DARK and stormy afternoon in our batatarian isle. The judicial
victory of a former governor celebrated, the defeat in the world baseball event already forgotten. OUR, keyboard operator got some courage to get rid of a couple of plants.
These two plants an Agavacea, pretty much like the ones used to make TEQUILA has been in my collection for five years. No matter how beautiful, it is
impossible to plant in the ground or keep in a pot unless there is a lot of space. This baby can grow ten feet in diameter. Better to get rid of it in a timely fashion. However, I did not throw it from a bridge as some fellow islanders do when tired of their pets.
I found a dry, five blocks from home a not too desolate lot to plant it. I made a mistake. Instead of bringing
the gardening pick (a 18 inches one), not the huge ones that silly unpractical people
such as Doglas Candelabro uses, I brought a small gardening trowel. The soil was pretty much construction debri, hard as a rock. The solution?
I put some rocks on the right side of this Maguey steadying it, for support and covered the root ball with loose
soil I was able to dig with difficulty. Fortunately, the area had been scouted previously, there is dense grass growing about two feet high, hiding this guerrilla gardening treasure from public employees with noisy trimmers, at least for
a while. Further reports as seem necessary in the future.
The other act took place in the adopted house. Next door. In a corner of the front garden I planted a weird nice looking tree, about 3 feet high without a single leaf.
It is related to the Ripsalis family..
I have not doubts that both plants will do well, since I can check them out.
Farrukito's cats will implant the usual dose nutrients on the soil...And top of all this,.. It rained, natures blessing.
It is hilarious how the blog stalker just write about issues wrongly interpreted as personal. Even though four new fresh, one is a translation, posts are published, only one, just a bait, for a test was commented. Not one, four times. As a rule anonymous
profiles not allowed.
The sun will come out in a few minutes. Our favorite early moment. Diva goes to her
Zen out house, smelling everything to check for cat presence, while I the not so humble once in a while gardener monitors for insects, enjoy the sight, smell the Frangipanis. One thing is clear. Gardening as a job, makes the senses dull, aesthetics
become an after thought, money the principle, the end.
Thanks for the memories...Jaha until next....
Todays multiple blogs were brought to you by the letters: Ficus Endemismo
Element and Dull or F E E D.
victory of a former governor celebrated, the defeat in the world baseball event already forgotten. OUR, keyboard operator got some courage to get rid of a couple of plants.
These two plants an Agavacea, pretty much like the ones used to make TEQUILA has been in my collection for five years. No matter how beautiful, it is
impossible to plant in the ground or keep in a pot unless there is a lot of space. This baby can grow ten feet in diameter. Better to get rid of it in a timely fashion. However, I did not throw it from a bridge as some fellow islanders do when tired of their pets.
I found a dry, five blocks from home a not too desolate lot to plant it. I made a mistake. Instead of bringing
the gardening pick (a 18 inches one), not the huge ones that silly unpractical people
such as Doglas Candelabro uses, I brought a small gardening trowel. The soil was pretty much construction debri, hard as a rock. The solution?
I put some rocks on the right side of this Maguey steadying it, for support and covered the root ball with loose
soil I was able to dig with difficulty. Fortunately, the area had been scouted previously, there is dense grass growing about two feet high, hiding this guerrilla gardening treasure from public employees with noisy trimmers, at least for
a while. Further reports as seem necessary in the future.
The other act took place in the adopted house. Next door. In a corner of the front garden I planted a weird nice looking tree, about 3 feet high without a single leaf.
It is related to the Ripsalis family..
I have not doubts that both plants will do well, since I can check them out.
Farrukito's cats will implant the usual dose nutrients on the soil...And top of all this,.. It rained, natures blessing.
It is hilarious how the blog stalker just write about issues wrongly interpreted as personal. Even though four new fresh, one is a translation, posts are published, only one, just a bait, for a test was commented. Not one, four times. As a rule anonymous
profiles not allowed.
The sun will come out in a few minutes. Our favorite early moment. Diva goes to her
Zen out house, smelling everything to check for cat presence, while I the not so humble once in a while gardener monitors for insects, enjoy the sight, smell the Frangipanis. One thing is clear. Gardening as a job, makes the senses dull, aesthetics
become an after thought, money the principle, the end.
Thanks for the memories...Jaha until next....
Todays multiple blogs were brought to you by the letters: Ficus Endemismo
Element and Dull or F E E D.
CRITICAL HORTICULTURE PARQUE DONHA INES FUNDACION LUIS MUNHOZ MARIN (FLMM)
SOME readers may wonder why our unknown keyboard operator seems only capable to observe, pin point horticultural aspects that others prefer
to ignore, sweep under the rug or look the other way.
Slowly through research, investigation one can reach his/her own conclussion, that I do not feel we have to share or coincide. What I would not allow are unsolicited opinions without criteria or references.
Parque Donha Ines with the FLMM as accomplices, surpassed by a lot, all
the aberrations denounced here more than once regarding the destruction or our environment by the Green Industry in Puerto Rico, and its territories (agronomists/landscape architects) within the installation/maintenance of green areas/landscapes.
It all began with the destruction of all the biomas in twelve acres of land with a huge tractor similar to those used by Israel to destroy Palestinian
shanty towns.
Believe it or not. The first aberration was not doing the mandatory, intelligent inventory of flora/fauna. The responsibility of Alberto Areces Mallea, with more titles than the Duchess of Alba, was skipped, ignored.
Apparently Mr. Mallea thought that no one was looking. On the other, hand I feel he certainly has scorn for the exotic vegetation and Puerto Rican authorities as when they stole palm trees from the Mona Island, even though it is forbidden, according to Adolfo Gutierrez.
This gentleman spent his previous life in various necks of the woods studying/writing academic papers about cacti and other esoteric subjects that were not related to propagation or management. This was evident the day when he and Gabriela, stole the rooting enzimes from my working area. One does not have to immerse
in water stems to be planted. It was pathetic watching the Phd, in such
dilemma.
No inventory of flora/fauna. Next. Gabriela Ocampo the astounding
beautifull wife, of our ENDEMIC POPE, a she 'agronomist' forgot to make the soil tests to determine texture, composition, acidity, drainage of the twelve destroyed acres of land.
She signed many documents claiming the tittle and not being a member of the College of Agronomists Puerto Rico, as the law mandates.
Now imagine these two characters pompous as peacocks, walking around, destroying our patrimony and getting paid for it... No inventory of flora/fauna. No soil tests.
Once upon a time they started to dig the holes to plant the silly endemic trees, mostly from Guayanilla, in their park, now with aspirations of becoming a BOTANICAL GARDEN, jaha bilingual laugh..
Where was I ... the digging. The park directors discovered the soil in these acres chosen for the park is CALICHE.. I kept some stats about some of the holes.
The 4 feet deep 2 wide were filled with water when it rained. To be able
to plant, they have to wait ten/fifteen days. If it did not rain again. Dried
enough, the original planting mix created by Mallea/Ocampo was in. It would be interesting to pull out the endemic trees planted to check
them outl. I wonder how they make through this type
of soil. Caliche is almost solid rock with little permeability for water to sip through soil pores.
I have some thirty pictures/negatives, of the destruction. The land in Parque Donha Ines showing some similarity with the moon. One of the pictures shows shoe tracks, after the 400 hundred trucks with top soil, had deposited it, again, without soil analisis....And a journal with plenty
of anecdotes like the one when the furniture from former judge Pons, was appropiated by the directors of the Mama Ines Park.
Im tired.. I shall continue later... but some addresses if
you want to inquire. research, investigate: taken from the FLMM site: jquiros@flmm.org, treyesramis@ts-pr.com, ksuazo@flmm.org
to ignore, sweep under the rug or look the other way.
Slowly through research, investigation one can reach his/her own conclussion, that I do not feel we have to share or coincide. What I would not allow are unsolicited opinions without criteria or references.
Parque Donha Ines with the FLMM as accomplices, surpassed by a lot, all
the aberrations denounced here more than once regarding the destruction or our environment by the Green Industry in Puerto Rico, and its territories (agronomists/landscape architects) within the installation/maintenance of green areas/landscapes.
It all began with the destruction of all the biomas in twelve acres of land with a huge tractor similar to those used by Israel to destroy Palestinian
shanty towns.
Believe it or not. The first aberration was not doing the mandatory, intelligent inventory of flora/fauna. The responsibility of Alberto Areces Mallea, with more titles than the Duchess of Alba, was skipped, ignored.
Apparently Mr. Mallea thought that no one was looking. On the other, hand I feel he certainly has scorn for the exotic vegetation and Puerto Rican authorities as when they stole palm trees from the Mona Island, even though it is forbidden, according to Adolfo Gutierrez.
This gentleman spent his previous life in various necks of the woods studying/writing academic papers about cacti and other esoteric subjects that were not related to propagation or management. This was evident the day when he and Gabriela, stole the rooting enzimes from my working area. One does not have to immerse
in water stems to be planted. It was pathetic watching the Phd, in such
dilemma.
No inventory of flora/fauna. Next. Gabriela Ocampo the astounding
beautifull wife, of our ENDEMIC POPE, a she 'agronomist' forgot to make the soil tests to determine texture, composition, acidity, drainage of the twelve destroyed acres of land.
She signed many documents claiming the tittle and not being a member of the College of Agronomists Puerto Rico, as the law mandates.
Now imagine these two characters pompous as peacocks, walking around, destroying our patrimony and getting paid for it... No inventory of flora/fauna. No soil tests.
Once upon a time they started to dig the holes to plant the silly endemic trees, mostly from Guayanilla, in their park, now with aspirations of becoming a BOTANICAL GARDEN, jaha bilingual laugh..
Where was I ... the digging. The park directors discovered the soil in these acres chosen for the park is CALICHE.. I kept some stats about some of the holes.
The 4 feet deep 2 wide were filled with water when it rained. To be able
to plant, they have to wait ten/fifteen days. If it did not rain again. Dried
enough, the original planting mix created by Mallea/Ocampo was in. It would be interesting to pull out the endemic trees planted to check
them outl. I wonder how they make through this type
of soil. Caliche is almost solid rock with little permeability for water to sip through soil pores.
I have some thirty pictures/negatives, of the destruction. The land in Parque Donha Ines showing some similarity with the moon. One of the pictures shows shoe tracks, after the 400 hundred trucks with top soil, had deposited it, again, without soil analisis....And a journal with plenty
of anecdotes like the one when the furniture from former judge Pons, was appropiated by the directors of the Mama Ines Park.
Im tired.. I shall continue later... but some addresses if
you want to inquire. research, investigate: taken from the FLMM site: jquiros@flmm.org, treyesramis@ts-pr.com, ksuazo@flmm.org
GARDENING MISCELANEOUS
THE DAY started early. Swept the leaves on the roof, a present from the TABEBUIA, in the noisy, smelly Sagrado Corazon, in Santurce, a private college not far from our residence. During the week,
one awakes with the thunderous noise of the WasteManagement dumpster garbage collect truck, metal against metal between five and five thirty in the morning.
Later is the refrigerated delivery truck with some more irritating noise with the idling and the air extractor from the probably illegal cafeteria in a building that is mostly classrooms. Or the feeders for the air conditioning with an infernal zumming day and night. And the conversations from the laborers in the cafeteria, still talking as when they were in their country of origin, as loud as possible.
I debate which is worse, all these noises day and night, or the repugnant smell of Lipton soup,
bacon, pepper and roasted pig between 6AM to 11 AM. All this special effects, when I go out
in the morning to monitor for insects, smell the Frangipanis, sweep the cement floor and
whatever else is necessary to keep the collection. On Monday I will go to present a formal
complaint about the smell, since one about noise is already with the agency dealing with this
problem.
I want to mention the great advantage of using spraying bombs to irrigate your plants. That is if you have mostly medium and low vegetation in your garden. If you observe carefully, lizards stand guard wherever they regularly hang out while you spray. I believe, they know insects not fond of the water spraying will come out for their breakfast. They do not move
at all, even when I am about two feet from where they are watching.
With this spray bombs one can perform three tasks. Feed the plants with foliar fertilizer, tea compost and plain water. With any task, one will scare away the few insects there are and watch for damage at the right moment to solve the problem before if gets difficult.
I use two spray bombs of one gallon each. Make sure you buy the bomb you need with a filter. Otherwise, even after you filter the tea compost, it will get clogged, a pain in the but, when you have a wide court to cover. If you buy cheap flimsy ones, after fifteen minutes your hand will hurt. Spend a few bucks more for an ergonomic handle that also allows you to
leave the water running constantly, just pump.
I spray about 3/4 of my plants in the ground or pots twice a day. Using about six gallons of water daily, if it does not rain. Before the sun heats and in the afternoons when it cools down. This allow me to check daily on the Cosmos sulfureous, Mirabilis siciliana, self seeding plants that I am very fond of for the color of the first and the smell of the latter.
I would say that if you keep the ground moist for two or three months while different generations of seeds develop and grow at different rates, you will cover the
space as necessary. Remember to leave empty spaces to allow plants to dry completely after a drenching, other wise fungus, viruses, bacterias will have a cozy home to procreate and ruin your effort.
That is that.
one awakes with the thunderous noise of the WasteManagement dumpster garbage collect truck, metal against metal between five and five thirty in the morning.
Later is the refrigerated delivery truck with some more irritating noise with the idling and the air extractor from the probably illegal cafeteria in a building that is mostly classrooms. Or the feeders for the air conditioning with an infernal zumming day and night. And the conversations from the laborers in the cafeteria, still talking as when they were in their country of origin, as loud as possible.
I debate which is worse, all these noises day and night, or the repugnant smell of Lipton soup,
bacon, pepper and roasted pig between 6AM to 11 AM. All this special effects, when I go out
in the morning to monitor for insects, smell the Frangipanis, sweep the cement floor and
whatever else is necessary to keep the collection. On Monday I will go to present a formal
complaint about the smell, since one about noise is already with the agency dealing with this
problem.
I want to mention the great advantage of using spraying bombs to irrigate your plants. That is if you have mostly medium and low vegetation in your garden. If you observe carefully, lizards stand guard wherever they regularly hang out while you spray. I believe, they know insects not fond of the water spraying will come out for their breakfast. They do not move
at all, even when I am about two feet from where they are watching.
With this spray bombs one can perform three tasks. Feed the plants with foliar fertilizer, tea compost and plain water. With any task, one will scare away the few insects there are and watch for damage at the right moment to solve the problem before if gets difficult.
I use two spray bombs of one gallon each. Make sure you buy the bomb you need with a filter. Otherwise, even after you filter the tea compost, it will get clogged, a pain in the but, when you have a wide court to cover. If you buy cheap flimsy ones, after fifteen minutes your hand will hurt. Spend a few bucks more for an ergonomic handle that also allows you to
leave the water running constantly, just pump.
I spray about 3/4 of my plants in the ground or pots twice a day. Using about six gallons of water daily, if it does not rain. Before the sun heats and in the afternoons when it cools down. This allow me to check daily on the Cosmos sulfureous, Mirabilis siciliana, self seeding plants that I am very fond of for the color of the first and the smell of the latter.
I would say that if you keep the ground moist for two or three months while different generations of seeds develop and grow at different rates, you will cover the
space as necessary. Remember to leave empty spaces to allow plants to dry completely after a drenching, other wise fungus, viruses, bacterias will have a cozy home to procreate and ruin your effort.
That is that.
ANONIMOUS FAN MAIL WITH RESPONSE
ONE OF THE REASONS I write a blog is that not having a company following the herd I have some moral standing to write, say, the issues discussed here. I did not post what you humbly write because there is no profile, however, your question is valid.
That is why I take the time to answer.
If I had a wife and children, I would certainly have a tough decision. To be honest, critical, denouncing the stupidity and avarice moving most people in landscaping companies or low ballers operations. Or to go happy go lucky planting Ficus for hedges, sterile oceans of grass, palm trees (as many/expensive) as the customer could afford, as close as possible to the walls/roof of the structure as it is use and custom in the isle.
Is that simple? Certainly not. No one told you to get married, or to have children without resources. Sex and children are not inseparable. Protection is not expensive,
is available and easy to install, even if one can not read the instructions.
Having to pay a mortgage, a car? When one takes that kind of responsibility, without
the adequate financial planning, in addition to the wife and kids...One has put himself/herself in the perfect trap of the American Dream. If you follow the news media you probably noticed that many people who have lost their houses, made
loans four times their combined salaries. If one gets sick, lose his/her job that is that.
NOW, should one pollute air, water, soil with gas, propane, oil, diesel used in every
machine used for landscape maintenance to make money for all the above? Should
one plant FICUS, PALMS, grass in every possible space to make money? I could not do it.
But I do not have any of the situations mentioned, because I made PLANS, for my life.
As to the probable, necessary, efficient use of manual tools in certain contexts, why not? Would not be intelligent, to offer for a sliding fee the use of manual tools: hand pruners, rakes, push lawn mowers to customers willing
to keep the quiet for them and the fauna? Without ANY pollution?
Imagine "J ORTIZ LANDSCAPING SERVICES', is happy to be the first one
in the GREEN INDUSTRY to offer our loyal customers, aware of the destruction of the environment by pollution and noise, the option of quiet, clean
landscape maintenance for a sliding fee. Please ask to our representative, give us
a call or send an email. We will be happy to comply.
I have used all those tools. I do not know how much they damage the health of the employees using them all day, but I confess one thing. It is silly to use a blower in
most cases since a light well built brush could do the job, except in large estates, commercial settings. Or when the leaves are wet, and the blower does not help,
as well as a rake would. The most hilarious thing is that once done with the blower you have to get a dust pan and broom for finishing touches.
I believe I have covered the whole court, except one. Why did I change to English?
As some may have noticed I used to write in Spanish. But I noticed that in Puerto Rico, those who were reacting to what interest me, were not into gardening. In terms of stats it that was only two readers, naming a few things in over a hundred comments.
On the other hand, since my duty is to denounce, being critical besides the great
pleasure of propagating/collecting , English has a wider audience in general.
In in terms of gardening/horticulture, professional/amateur, serious or trivial in any continent, it is a hundred times wider and more susceptible to comment
on the essence of what is written versus the hipothetical value of the pictures.
Until then, thanks for writing and get a profile. This is not personal. YOU do not
tell a film, literature critic not to critize, because you have to feed your family.
That is why I take the time to answer.
If I had a wife and children, I would certainly have a tough decision. To be honest, critical, denouncing the stupidity and avarice moving most people in landscaping companies or low ballers operations. Or to go happy go lucky planting Ficus for hedges, sterile oceans of grass, palm trees (as many/expensive) as the customer could afford, as close as possible to the walls/roof of the structure as it is use and custom in the isle.
Is that simple? Certainly not. No one told you to get married, or to have children without resources. Sex and children are not inseparable. Protection is not expensive,
is available and easy to install, even if one can not read the instructions.
Having to pay a mortgage, a car? When one takes that kind of responsibility, without
the adequate financial planning, in addition to the wife and kids...One has put himself/herself in the perfect trap of the American Dream. If you follow the news media you probably noticed that many people who have lost their houses, made
loans four times their combined salaries. If one gets sick, lose his/her job that is that.
NOW, should one pollute air, water, soil with gas, propane, oil, diesel used in every
machine used for landscape maintenance to make money for all the above? Should
one plant FICUS, PALMS, grass in every possible space to make money? I could not do it.
But I do not have any of the situations mentioned, because I made PLANS, for my life.
As to the probable, necessary, efficient use of manual tools in certain contexts, why not? Would not be intelligent, to offer for a sliding fee the use of manual tools: hand pruners, rakes, push lawn mowers to customers willing
to keep the quiet for them and the fauna? Without ANY pollution?
Imagine "J ORTIZ LANDSCAPING SERVICES', is happy to be the first one
in the GREEN INDUSTRY to offer our loyal customers, aware of the destruction of the environment by pollution and noise, the option of quiet, clean
landscape maintenance for a sliding fee. Please ask to our representative, give us
a call or send an email. We will be happy to comply.
I have used all those tools. I do not know how much they damage the health of the employees using them all day, but I confess one thing. It is silly to use a blower in
most cases since a light well built brush could do the job, except in large estates, commercial settings. Or when the leaves are wet, and the blower does not help,
as well as a rake would. The most hilarious thing is that once done with the blower you have to get a dust pan and broom for finishing touches.
I believe I have covered the whole court, except one. Why did I change to English?
As some may have noticed I used to write in Spanish. But I noticed that in Puerto Rico, those who were reacting to what interest me, were not into gardening. In terms of stats it that was only two readers, naming a few things in over a hundred comments.
On the other hand, since my duty is to denounce, being critical besides the great
pleasure of propagating/collecting , English has a wider audience in general.
In in terms of gardening/horticulture, professional/amateur, serious or trivial in any continent, it is a hundred times wider and more susceptible to comment
on the essence of what is written versus the hipothetical value of the pictures.
Until then, thanks for writing and get a profile. This is not personal. YOU do not
tell a film, literature critic not to critize, because you have to feed your family.
jueves, 19 de marzo de 2009
IS USING ANY FICUS FOR A HEDGE A CLEAR SIGN OF STUPIDITY? OR endemismotrasnochado HISTORY OF LANDSCAPING PRACTICES IN PUERTO RICO
I RECEIVED FAN MAIL a while ago, a wordy communication from an employee whose
employer once upon a time was a regular here, in the comments department. Even though he demonstrated some anger and annoyance to something I wrote, he did not insult yours truly. My experience is that gardeners for hire are mostly illiterate, unable to read instructions on labels. I apologize if any one has been offended by my HORTICULTURAL CREATIVE CRITICISM.
The person in question was spraying a FICUS hedge in a lot with uneven grass.
I was curious and asked a simple question, is this a bush or tree? He assumed I did not
know, which is irrelevant. If one does not know the botanical name, but knows it is a tree, it is meaningless. However trees are not used anywhere as
hedges as it is being done with FICUS in Puerto Rico for the last 10/15 years.
Moons ago HIBISCUS, MURRAYA PANICULATA ,IXORAS and other bushes were used all
over the island as HEDGES. They are certainly useful for privacy, noise reduction or
hiding ugly structures such as electricity generators, garbage dumpsters and so on.
I believe they look nice in a formal garden, to frame, give focus/perspective, even if
I have/will have nothing to do with them.
In Puerto Rico, one sees hedges in every corner, in the private sector to bill more
often since hedges require once a week or twice a month trimming. In the public a sure sign
of stupidity, particularly when done in roads/highway medians without room to
maneuver risking the life of employees with the traffic.
Those who are plain stupid or ignorant, or wise/avaricious planting such trees as
FICUS for hedges should not be offended. After all I am writing the history of the landscaping management in Puerto Rico. NO one else is. If you start reading from the very first blog, you will notice that out of every ten articles,
at least three mention some type of plant, bush, tree, climber, ground cover. Either endemic or exotic.
This blog could be used after editing as just an INVENTORY of what s not sold
in stores or nurseries. Many of these are ignored by agronomists, landscape architects, and the whole rainbow doing landscaping in our isle. The other
possibility for not using this type of plants, trees, bushes is the slow rate of
growth. I can not see other reason, for the irrational use of FICUS as hedges by people with college degrees, illiterate ones or neither of the above.
The funny thing is that some people who are complaining about my criticism, and others who remain quiet, once upon a time, in a far away time, received me resume.. Unfortunately, there was no courtesy response. One thing is evident. If you have the ability/time
and read everything here, the bulk, the heavy bulk is clear: NO TURF, NO HEDGES,
NO PALM TREES are the three fundamental principles under which I judge/write.
POLLUTING the environment, with gasoline, oil, propane gas, diesel, while using
lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers is unaceptable, period. Air, water, soil, and noise
pollution are a sign of backwardness, a destructive contradiction while gardening. It is not only
against our health, but that of nature, flora and fauna. When in court accused of anything, the rule is simple, not knowing
does not make you innocent, nor it is an excuse. Until next.. .Thanks for the opportunity...
employer once upon a time was a regular here, in the comments department. Even though he demonstrated some anger and annoyance to something I wrote, he did not insult yours truly. My experience is that gardeners for hire are mostly illiterate, unable to read instructions on labels. I apologize if any one has been offended by my HORTICULTURAL CREATIVE CRITICISM.
The person in question was spraying a FICUS hedge in a lot with uneven grass.
I was curious and asked a simple question, is this a bush or tree? He assumed I did not
know, which is irrelevant. If one does not know the botanical name, but knows it is a tree, it is meaningless. However trees are not used anywhere as
hedges as it is being done with FICUS in Puerto Rico for the last 10/15 years.
Moons ago HIBISCUS, MURRAYA PANICULATA ,IXORAS and other bushes were used all
over the island as HEDGES. They are certainly useful for privacy, noise reduction or
hiding ugly structures such as electricity generators, garbage dumpsters and so on.
I believe they look nice in a formal garden, to frame, give focus/perspective, even if
I have/will have nothing to do with them.
In Puerto Rico, one sees hedges in every corner, in the private sector to bill more
often since hedges require once a week or twice a month trimming. In the public a sure sign
of stupidity, particularly when done in roads/highway medians without room to
maneuver risking the life of employees with the traffic.
Those who are plain stupid or ignorant, or wise/avaricious planting such trees as
FICUS for hedges should not be offended. After all I am writing the history of the landscaping management in Puerto Rico. NO one else is. If you start reading from the very first blog, you will notice that out of every ten articles,
at least three mention some type of plant, bush, tree, climber, ground cover. Either endemic or exotic.
This blog could be used after editing as just an INVENTORY of what s not sold
in stores or nurseries. Many of these are ignored by agronomists, landscape architects, and the whole rainbow doing landscaping in our isle. The other
possibility for not using this type of plants, trees, bushes is the slow rate of
growth. I can not see other reason, for the irrational use of FICUS as hedges by people with college degrees, illiterate ones or neither of the above.
The funny thing is that some people who are complaining about my criticism, and others who remain quiet, once upon a time, in a far away time, received me resume.. Unfortunately, there was no courtesy response. One thing is evident. If you have the ability/time
and read everything here, the bulk, the heavy bulk is clear: NO TURF, NO HEDGES,
NO PALM TREES are the three fundamental principles under which I judge/write.
POLLUTING the environment, with gasoline, oil, propane gas, diesel, while using
lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers is unaceptable, period. Air, water, soil, and noise
pollution are a sign of backwardness, a destructive contradiction while gardening. It is not only
against our health, but that of nature, flora and fauna. When in court accused of anything, the rule is simple, not knowing
does not make you innocent, nor it is an excuse. Until next.. .Thanks for the opportunity...
miércoles, 18 de marzo de 2009
BOURET HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PRESENTS THE BOTANICAL INVENTORY FOR MARCH 2009
I KNOW, some fans may wonder the need of all these botanical names. To them I write, try to solve any problem without it. The most complete inventory in endemismo so far, but like that
cathedral started by Gaudi, it will remain unfinished because there are still unidentified plants at home. When one collects from the field, wild sources, seeds,
stems, or from friends and relatives with interest in horticulture is not easy. There are not many worth buying books on the subject, except those by Miner, who has four or five books in related subjects on Puerto Rico's flora in libraries.\\
One issue worth mentioning Is that some plants are considered weeds, around five
of my favorite climbers are wild, hard to find in reference books.. Further down the
road in will publish some photos, not being a photographer, it requires some planning. On the other hand there are too many blogs on this subject about photography in a what seems to me a vacuum. The picture is all, often without ID.
Frangipani acutifolia/lutea/rubra, Tulbaghia violacea, Anthurium.
Capsicum, Lipia Micromera, Insulina, Ocimun Basilicum, Citrus Limonium,
Origanum vulgare, Peperomia Pellucida, Cajanus cajan, Rosmarinus officinalis and Aloe vera.
INTERMISSION
Yesterday while talking a walk in what is known as The Golden Mile, for the aglomeration
of money laundering institutions (banks/mortgage originators/and else) could not help but
noticing the uneven, cracked, sidewalks. It is a trip watching the elegant ladies mostly office
workers trying to keep the balance in such pathetic conditions. I declare right know that
highways, roads and sidewalks in the Metro Area in San Juan are pretty similar to those in
Bagdhad in aesthetics or physical condition.
BACK TO THE INVENTORY
Multiflorum,Tulbaghia violacea, Rhoe spathacea, Allamanda cathartica, Brumfelsia pauciflora, Calliandra Haemathocephala, Alocasia cuculata, Zephyrantes, Carica papaya,
Tartago, Bouganvillea and last for the moment but not least for Spindalis/Hummingbirds
at least the red variety IXORAS.
cathedral started by Gaudi, it will remain unfinished because there are still unidentified plants at home. When one collects from the field, wild sources, seeds,
stems, or from friends and relatives with interest in horticulture is not easy. There are not many worth buying books on the subject, except those by Miner, who has four or five books in related subjects on Puerto Rico's flora in libraries.\\
One issue worth mentioning Is that some plants are considered weeds, around five
of my favorite climbers are wild, hard to find in reference books.. Further down the
road in will publish some photos, not being a photographer, it requires some planning. On the other hand there are too many blogs on this subject about photography in a what seems to me a vacuum. The picture is all, often without ID.
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
- Thespesia populnea
- Cestrum diurnum
- Frangipani
- Coccoloba uvifera
- Bauhinia
- Clitoria ternatea
- Mangifera indica
- Pandanus utilis
- Chrysothemis pulchella
- Hippeastrum
- Pithelobium dulce
- Merremia quinquefolia
- Cannavalia Maritima
- Portulaca olaraceae
- Thevetia peruviana
- Tradescantia palida
- Commelina elegans
- Talinum triangular
- Urena lobata
- Calliandra
- Murraya paniculata
- Hibiscus
- Ixora
- Turnera ulmifolia/diffusa/subulata
- Ruellia brittoniana
- Manihot esculenta
- Ochna mossabisensis
- Pereskia corrugata
- Cuphea hissofolia
Frangipani acutifolia/lutea/rubra, Tulbaghia violacea, Anthurium.
Capsicum, Lipia Micromera, Insulina, Ocimun Basilicum, Citrus Limonium,
Origanum vulgare, Peperomia Pellucida, Cajanus cajan, Rosmarinus officinalis and Aloe vera.
INTERMISSION
Yesterday while talking a walk in what is known as The Golden Mile, for the aglomeration
of money laundering institutions (banks/mortgage originators/and else) could not help but
noticing the uneven, cracked, sidewalks. It is a trip watching the elegant ladies mostly office
workers trying to keep the balance in such pathetic conditions. I declare right know that
highways, roads and sidewalks in the Metro Area in San Juan are pretty similar to those in
Bagdhad in aesthetics or physical condition.
BACK TO THE INVENTORY
- Cosmus sulphureous
- Mirabilis siciliana
- Hemerocallis
- Oxalis
- Allium
- Scadoxus
- Crinum
- Sanseverias
- Costus Graptophyllum
- Trimela caribea
- Catharantus roseus
- Gloriosa rothschildiana
- Proiphys amboinensis
- Aglaomena
- Diffembachia
- Orchid
- Alocasia macrorihiza
- Datura stramonium
- Nephrolepsis
- Zamia
Multiflorum,Tulbaghia violacea, Rhoe spathacea, Allamanda cathartica, Brumfelsia pauciflora, Calliandra Haemathocephala, Alocasia cuculata, Zephyrantes, Carica papaya,
Tartago, Bouganvillea and last for the moment but not least for Spindalis/Hummingbirds
at least the red variety IXORAS.
martes, 17 de marzo de 2009
BEYOND GARDENING IN THE YARD
SOME ARE happy and content with choosing, digging the hole, planting anything, watching it grow patiently, eating, observing the beauty or smelling the aroma of this
object of our attention and care. But perhaps there is more.
Others complacently propagate not those plants with better possibilities to survive
under the required conditions, but those selling faster, growing faster, the higher
the price of selling after measuring the costs of planting/growing and the heck with
aesthetics, ecological considerations that would make a garden in the city useful to flora and fauna in any other context.
Some Asian philosophical ways to look at reality are worthy of reviewing for their
simplicity at conveying the uniqueness of nature and men parts of a whole.
Here a brief poem from Lao Tzu,
Thirty spokes are made one by holes in a hub
By vacancies joining them for a wheel's use;
The use of clay in moulding pitchers
Comes from the hollow of its absence;
Doors, windows, in a house,
Are used for their emptiness:
Thus we are helped by what is not
To use what is.
The Way of Life by Lao Tzu
Translated by Witter Bynner
The emptiness above also applies to your garden.
Empty spaces allow your plants to
demonstrate their real beauty and form.
To end this chapter I want to thank the following
for their kindness and professionalism. Something
rare, at least from my neck of the woods.
Christianne White, Project Assistant
Cornell U Lab of Ornithology
www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org
and
Veronica Mendez Gallardo, Coordinator
Puerto Rico Ornithological Society
sopi_aia@yahoo.com
They responded to my emails requesting info about birds in the urban context
in Puerto Rico. I appreciate their prompt help. Which in turn allowed to write
a short article and to expand my understanding of gardens as an ecological whole, instead of a space
planted without focus, perspective and meaning. Time to go...
object of our attention and care. But perhaps there is more.
Others complacently propagate not those plants with better possibilities to survive
under the required conditions, but those selling faster, growing faster, the higher
the price of selling after measuring the costs of planting/growing and the heck with
aesthetics, ecological considerations that would make a garden in the city useful to flora and fauna in any other context.
Some Asian philosophical ways to look at reality are worthy of reviewing for their
simplicity at conveying the uniqueness of nature and men parts of a whole.
Here a brief poem from Lao Tzu,
Thirty spokes are made one by holes in a hub
By vacancies joining them for a wheel's use;
The use of clay in moulding pitchers
Comes from the hollow of its absence;
Doors, windows, in a house,
Are used for their emptiness:
Thus we are helped by what is not
To use what is.
The Way of Life by Lao Tzu
Translated by Witter Bynner
The emptiness above also applies to your garden.
Empty spaces allow your plants to
demonstrate their real beauty and form.
To end this chapter I want to thank the following
for their kindness and professionalism. Something
rare, at least from my neck of the woods.
Christianne White, Project Assistant
Cornell U Lab of Ornithology
www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org
and
Veronica Mendez Gallardo, Coordinator
Puerto Rico Ornithological Society
sopi_aia@yahoo.com
They responded to my emails requesting info about birds in the urban context
in Puerto Rico. I appreciate their prompt help. Which in turn allowed to write
a short article and to expand my understanding of gardens as an ecological whole, instead of a space
planted without focus, perspective and meaning. Time to go...
domingo, 15 de marzo de 2009
INVENTORY UPDATES
YESTERDAY, was mingling with people day. A shopping mall aberration, the fifth
in sales, or is it the third, in USA. Plaza. I saw many interesting things in sociological
ways. A small bunch of young people dressed in black, with some tattoos, mutilated bodies with holes, they are the never dying breed of GOTHICS.
I have changed my position regarding this freaks I would have called them some time ago. Now I prefer to see them as what they really are. Young people with odd tastes and a rejection to the squares as the complacent, docile, followers of society trends were known then.
After a while, the background noise of people chatting non stop, with far too many children in a close space became unbearable. I moved to the book store, too crowded
with the same, but lucky to find a corner to check Horticulture mags and a couple of books about vines/flowers from Puerto Rico.
Here is the list of plants that were left without ID, in the previous inventory. It may seem dejavus, since botanical names are in latin and they all look the same but are not.
should not be surprised. IT is not that I keep looking for plants constantly as a junkie for the
fix. Is more simple I have had plants for many years without knowing the botanical name.
A garden without plant names is like orphans roaming in the prairies without being baptized.
Why do I keep an inventory may ask the recently arrived? It is a serious habit, consequence of my training in the NY Botanical Garden. It is a matter of discipline as important as to
monitor for insects daily. By the way, citrus and beans so far, the most prone to be attacked
by insects, often in two or three days you have a pest. The messy type with colonies
of insects into the sap sucking trip, the worst.
The most important reason, however, besides the numerical, is that a botanical names
allows to investigate and learn how to propagate, take care or the plant/diseases, and so on.
Which reminds me that after the mingling, always requiring a great effort, I checked out
those blogs that I observe to see what I can learn.
I confirmed a tendency in the garden blogosphere in every continent. A fine gentleman from a faaar away former British colony,
places a picture of some Hibiscus with a seemingly GIANT mosquito. THE object of the inquiry was the mosquito. " Can anyone tell me what IS IT, does anyone knows"? Now, you may not believe this but it is true. Between ten/fifteen of his groupies, permanently commenting on
whatever his picture may be, wrote about what a nice picture of the insect, beautiful, wonderful, and other classical adjectives, not far from those used to describe films in trailers.
I could not believe it. It was just like the story of five/tree blind men describing an elephant with their hands, while touching the body. No clue. I suggested to name the plant since most insects, prefer
specific plants and or relatives. Example, one insect I can not remember, loves roses and apple
trees, spending one cycle of its life in one, moving later to the other, causing great harm in the orchards. At least in the past, when there were no resistant varieties developed.
IN BRIEF, these serious gardeners proud of the beauty of ANY flower in their garden, could not
make an intelligent suggestion to solve the matter, but ALL wrote about what a beautiful
insect it was. Now, for those into research, widening their views.. The only thing one needs
to figure out damage done to a plant during the night, is the pattern of chewing. Border, center of the leaves, inside, marks/evidence of sucking, color
changes in the leaf, bended borders of the leaf and so forth.
Please, later go with the botanical name to search. Write the botanical name+plus insect
damage+diseases and presto... You have a great possibility of knowing exactly who is damaging your UH/AH flower, or at least how to destroy/stop the culprit from causing
more harm. Remember if you use chemicals that are not organic....You will also destroy lizards, earthworms, milipeeds and everyjuan else...
BONUS FOR CARIBBEAN ISLANDERS
SOCIEDAD HORTICULTURAL BOURET. One of many failed attempts to my phylanthropic inclinations.. A concept thought and exposed in some lame site, JunteAmbiental. The people were invited for free classes, plant/seed exchanges. The trick, difficult to comprehend for the sophisticated visitors to that site, was simple. To verify your assistance, you had to send an email to my
address provided in the announcement. Some mentally challenged requested my phone, as
if there was something wrong with sending a message to comply with the request.
It all became water and salt. Another example of the IQ levels of our environmental segment
of the population. Also evidence that yours truly is certainly not a total misanthropist, not yet. Time to go....
in sales, or is it the third, in USA. Plaza. I saw many interesting things in sociological
ways. A small bunch of young people dressed in black, with some tattoos, mutilated bodies with holes, they are the never dying breed of GOTHICS.
I have changed my position regarding this freaks I would have called them some time ago. Now I prefer to see them as what they really are. Young people with odd tastes and a rejection to the squares as the complacent, docile, followers of society trends were known then.
After a while, the background noise of people chatting non stop, with far too many children in a close space became unbearable. I moved to the book store, too crowded
with the same, but lucky to find a corner to check Horticulture mags and a couple of books about vines/flowers from Puerto Rico.
Here is the list of plants that were left without ID, in the previous inventory. It may seem dejavus, since botanical names are in latin and they all look the same but are not.
- Clitoria ternata
- Cissus verticillata
- Cannavalia maritima
- Portulaca oleracea
- Commelina elegans
- Talinum triangular
- Urena lobata
- Tradescantia palida
- Hippeastrum
- Manihot esculenta
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
should not be surprised. IT is not that I keep looking for plants constantly as a junkie for the
fix. Is more simple I have had plants for many years without knowing the botanical name.
A garden without plant names is like orphans roaming in the prairies without being baptized.
Why do I keep an inventory may ask the recently arrived? It is a serious habit, consequence of my training in the NY Botanical Garden. It is a matter of discipline as important as to
monitor for insects daily. By the way, citrus and beans so far, the most prone to be attacked
by insects, often in two or three days you have a pest. The messy type with colonies
of insects into the sap sucking trip, the worst.
The most important reason, however, besides the numerical, is that a botanical names
allows to investigate and learn how to propagate, take care or the plant/diseases, and so on.
Which reminds me that after the mingling, always requiring a great effort, I checked out
those blogs that I observe to see what I can learn.
I confirmed a tendency in the garden blogosphere in every continent. A fine gentleman from a faaar away former British colony,
places a picture of some Hibiscus with a seemingly GIANT mosquito. THE object of the inquiry was the mosquito. " Can anyone tell me what IS IT, does anyone knows"? Now, you may not believe this but it is true. Between ten/fifteen of his groupies, permanently commenting on
whatever his picture may be, wrote about what a nice picture of the insect, beautiful, wonderful, and other classical adjectives, not far from those used to describe films in trailers.
I could not believe it. It was just like the story of five/tree blind men describing an elephant with their hands, while touching the body. No clue. I suggested to name the plant since most insects, prefer
specific plants and or relatives. Example, one insect I can not remember, loves roses and apple
trees, spending one cycle of its life in one, moving later to the other, causing great harm in the orchards. At least in the past, when there were no resistant varieties developed.
IN BRIEF, these serious gardeners proud of the beauty of ANY flower in their garden, could not
make an intelligent suggestion to solve the matter, but ALL wrote about what a beautiful
insect it was. Now, for those into research, widening their views.. The only thing one needs
to figure out damage done to a plant during the night, is the pattern of chewing. Border, center of the leaves, inside, marks/evidence of sucking, color
changes in the leaf, bended borders of the leaf and so forth.
Please, later go with the botanical name to search. Write the botanical name+plus insect
damage+diseases and presto... You have a great possibility of knowing exactly who is damaging your UH/AH flower, or at least how to destroy/stop the culprit from causing
more harm. Remember if you use chemicals that are not organic....You will also destroy lizards, earthworms, milipeeds and everyjuan else...
BONUS FOR CARIBBEAN ISLANDERS
SOCIEDAD HORTICULTURAL BOURET. One of many failed attempts to my phylanthropic inclinations.. A concept thought and exposed in some lame site, JunteAmbiental. The people were invited for free classes, plant/seed exchanges. The trick, difficult to comprehend for the sophisticated visitors to that site, was simple. To verify your assistance, you had to send an email to my
address provided in the announcement. Some mentally challenged requested my phone, as
if there was something wrong with sending a message to comply with the request.
It all became water and salt. Another example of the IQ levels of our environmental segment
of the population. Also evidence that yours truly is certainly not a total misanthropist, not yet. Time to go....
sábado, 14 de marzo de 2009
LULUS DEJA VUS
THE FEEDBACK LESS comment made me think about the only thing that is perhaps
worth keeping in mind, nature. If you are member of a cult, better if protestant, saving
your soul, while losing your habitat is somewhat of an empty task. At any rate, your soul will certainly travel faster than a Concorde to heaven without water, air, soil, food
for that temple of your soul, your body.
The LESPERIAN TRIUMVIRATE, immerse in 'el petition' cause, honestly believe that
the act of signing anything will help to create conscience about the mutilation/destruction of trees in our asphalt/concrete isle. It all started with a
national pastime: TREE HUNT SEASON. This event takes place daily by home
owners, illiterate Green Industry for hire employees and government municipalities.
It is done with dull knives, machetes or motosierras (chainsaws). However, what motivated this
"action" by our worthy constituents, was the declaration of our 007 Department of
Natural Resources that it will be easier to do formally by their loved hicks (jibaros) and citizens, what is done informally daily. With a difference, now, it will be required to present pictures, to get permits to mutilate/destroy what is mutilated/destroyed any way.
But no one thought, among these bright academic and academic to be, minds of the positive side. With the pictures, a mausoleum the size of el YUNQUE could
be built to honor the trees fallen on this one sided daily battle. Instead of what is happening now. They all get killed anonymously.
Other certain deja vus, life seems just a dull repetition of acts(Cortazar, wrote about it), is that these defenders of trees have made no declaration about their committment renouncing to have turf, grass, lawn, hedges or palm trees in their properties. Why? They are of cuestionable aesthetics. Two. They require maintenance that unless done with hand tools need using machines that pollute with noise, water, air and soil with spills.
If the Green Industry and these defenders of trees had any understanding of ecology, they would not even think of talking about GLOBAL WARMING, without previous pondering about the above parragraph.
More deja vus. The newest 007 director, a young fellow who probably has not planted a bean in elementary school great opportunity to show (in front of TV cameras) talent and action in our environment context? Digging holes to plant even more trees known to grow in those
areas to be planted. Those were his words while referring to Emajaguilla and Coccoloba Uvifera prone to grow in salty, sandy environments.
What else? Some people who started attacking us with insults toward credentials,
education and skills seem now to love, want to embrace us.. I do not know what for or why. My criticism is not personal and wish you all no harm in the pocket. If the intention is to offer me employment, I am retired, but planning to
go back to Civil Court in Manjatan to do what we used to: interpret/sight trasnlation.
I would consider a position of Director, for twenty five bucks hour, my salary then.
I would consider any offer if there is evidence of educating the customers with
the benefits of eliminating turf, substitute it with artificial turf/ground covers. By the way, entrepeneur brother in arms, have you thought of el billete, your motivation, in the
installing of beautiful artificial grass? You will make a bundle! You probably saw
it in the Hiram Bithorn, it really looks real to the uninitiated.
The other requirement is the same about palm trees, no more palm trees, recycling
of water used for irrigation, no use of chemicals: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers,
worth keeping in mind, nature. If you are member of a cult, better if protestant, saving
your soul, while losing your habitat is somewhat of an empty task. At any rate, your soul will certainly travel faster than a Concorde to heaven without water, air, soil, food
for that temple of your soul, your body.
The LESPERIAN TRIUMVIRATE, immerse in 'el petition' cause, honestly believe that
the act of signing anything will help to create conscience about the mutilation/destruction of trees in our asphalt/concrete isle. It all started with a
national pastime: TREE HUNT SEASON. This event takes place daily by home
owners, illiterate Green Industry for hire employees and government municipalities.
It is done with dull knives, machetes or motosierras (chainsaws). However, what motivated this
"action" by our worthy constituents, was the declaration of our 007 Department of
Natural Resources that it will be easier to do formally by their loved hicks (jibaros) and citizens, what is done informally daily. With a difference, now, it will be required to present pictures, to get permits to mutilate/destroy what is mutilated/destroyed any way.
But no one thought, among these bright academic and academic to be, minds of the positive side. With the pictures, a mausoleum the size of el YUNQUE could
be built to honor the trees fallen on this one sided daily battle. Instead of what is happening now. They all get killed anonymously.
Other certain deja vus, life seems just a dull repetition of acts(Cortazar, wrote about it), is that these defenders of trees have made no declaration about their committment renouncing to have turf, grass, lawn, hedges or palm trees in their properties. Why? They are of cuestionable aesthetics. Two. They require maintenance that unless done with hand tools need using machines that pollute with noise, water, air and soil with spills.
If the Green Industry and these defenders of trees had any understanding of ecology, they would not even think of talking about GLOBAL WARMING, without previous pondering about the above parragraph.
More deja vus. The newest 007 director, a young fellow who probably has not planted a bean in elementary school great opportunity to show (in front of TV cameras) talent and action in our environment context? Digging holes to plant even more trees known to grow in those
areas to be planted. Those were his words while referring to Emajaguilla and Coccoloba Uvifera prone to grow in salty, sandy environments.
What else? Some people who started attacking us with insults toward credentials,
education and skills seem now to love, want to embrace us.. I do not know what for or why. My criticism is not personal and wish you all no harm in the pocket. If the intention is to offer me employment, I am retired, but planning to
go back to Civil Court in Manjatan to do what we used to: interpret/sight trasnlation.
I would consider a position of Director, for twenty five bucks hour, my salary then.
I would consider any offer if there is evidence of educating the customers with
the benefits of eliminating turf, substitute it with artificial turf/ground covers. By the way, entrepeneur brother in arms, have you thought of el billete, your motivation, in the
installing of beautiful artificial grass? You will make a bundle! You probably saw
it in the Hiram Bithorn, it really looks real to the uninitiated.
The other requirement is the same about palm trees, no more palm trees, recycling
of water used for irrigation, no use of chemicals: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers,
or fungicides. All organic. Have I left anything?
YEP! What about the title? I thought this as a tribute to the one below. Lulus Dejavus, what a magnificent tittle for some Delta Blues......
YEP! What about the title? I thought this as a tribute to the one below. Lulus Dejavus, what a magnificent tittle for some Delta Blues......
to
JOSE/JUAN/JAIME/JAVIER/JORGE/JOAQUIN
CARLOS
AS DAD USED TO SAY
Mis dejavuses no
son
de
queso
NI SE COMEN CON MELAO
JOSE/JUAN/JAIME/JAVIER/JORGE/JOAQUIN
CARLOS
AS DAD USED TO SAY
Mis dejavuses no
son
de
queso
NI SE COMEN CON MELAO
jueves, 12 de marzo de 2009
THE GREEN INDUSTRY WHAT IS IT TO YOU? FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
JUDGING FROM "LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT' a serious magazine for the professional involved in this field, not much for you or the environment. If you read carefully the articles, or just the tittles, one will find that anything except ECOLOGICAL considerations move those in this segment of the for profit economy.
The ENVIRONMENT is just an afterthought, an obstacle to profits. It is consequence of rigid laws regarding the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. All these pollute water, soil, air, in addition to gas, oil, propane and diesel, in old/new
lawn mowers to increase speed, efficiency and profits.
NOISE POLLUTION is also an issue for the environment, people and fauna. Blowers,
trimmers, hedge pruners, and others disturbing our peace and that of other creatures.
In Puerto Rico, all that seems bad in USA/CANADA is worst. In those territories many states, counties, provinces, require that people doing any kind of work related
to LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, possess some type of certificate to use those chemicals already mentioned, some of which are really dangerous for us and many creatures right now, also in the long run since many accumulate in soil/water. There are agencies enforcing the law, giving fines and/or jail for violators.
Down here is a different story. Ask for the records required by FEDERAL LAW, regarding dates, hours of day when polluting chemicals of all types were used. Find out if any training was given to the workers spraying whatever. Could they show you the safety equipment used by these workers while spraying toxic chemicals? If working on their own, could these employees read the instructions for the use of
toxic chemicals?
Were the people in the neighborhood forewarned of the use of chemicals forty hours before? For their safety, their children and pets? Oooppss. NOT here.
The Green Industry in USA/CANADA, does not hide behind doors to conduct business. They pay income taxes, Medicaid, Social Security. They offer vacations,
holidays, sick days, training to their staff.
NOT HERE. Once notices that many hide their names, conduct unindentified vehicles, and are always acting with suspicion as if people like yours truly are
into something, to take away their business? To put them on the spot for money
laundering? For not following the law? That was the reaction of Gabriel Berriz, a jerk
of Cuban origin during the interview many years ago, after making this humble
servant to wait for more than an hour.
Right after arriving from New York with my certificate in Commercial Horticulture
Landscape Management, I approached people in Gramas Lindas, Peannuck Gardens,
American Lawn and many many others. They all operate with this behind the curtains, modus operandi, afraid of being caught in one scam: billing too much,
or doing shitty installments of gardens, grass or palms, all they can do....
One thing is certain. IN USA/CANADA or Puerto Rico, people leading these companies have no respect for the environment, the earth, nature, ecology since
their motivation is money, the faster the better. That is why every article written
in LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, no matter what the subject is, ends with speed and efficiency.
We will continue in upinthebreadfruittree with GRAMAS LINDAS AND american lawn, anecdotes, for the uninitiated.
The ENVIRONMENT is just an afterthought, an obstacle to profits. It is consequence of rigid laws regarding the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers. All these pollute water, soil, air, in addition to gas, oil, propane and diesel, in old/new
lawn mowers to increase speed, efficiency and profits.
NOISE POLLUTION is also an issue for the environment, people and fauna. Blowers,
trimmers, hedge pruners, and others disturbing our peace and that of other creatures.
In Puerto Rico, all that seems bad in USA/CANADA is worst. In those territories many states, counties, provinces, require that people doing any kind of work related
to LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, possess some type of certificate to use those chemicals already mentioned, some of which are really dangerous for us and many creatures right now, also in the long run since many accumulate in soil/water. There are agencies enforcing the law, giving fines and/or jail for violators.
Down here is a different story. Ask for the records required by FEDERAL LAW, regarding dates, hours of day when polluting chemicals of all types were used. Find out if any training was given to the workers spraying whatever. Could they show you the safety equipment used by these workers while spraying toxic chemicals? If working on their own, could these employees read the instructions for the use of
toxic chemicals?
Were the people in the neighborhood forewarned of the use of chemicals forty hours before? For their safety, their children and pets? Oooppss. NOT here.
The Green Industry in USA/CANADA, does not hide behind doors to conduct business. They pay income taxes, Medicaid, Social Security. They offer vacations,
holidays, sick days, training to their staff.
NOT HERE. Once notices that many hide their names, conduct unindentified vehicles, and are always acting with suspicion as if people like yours truly are
into something, to take away their business? To put them on the spot for money
laundering? For not following the law? That was the reaction of Gabriel Berriz, a jerk
of Cuban origin during the interview many years ago, after making this humble
servant to wait for more than an hour.
Right after arriving from New York with my certificate in Commercial Horticulture
Landscape Management, I approached people in Gramas Lindas, Peannuck Gardens,
American Lawn and many many others. They all operate with this behind the curtains, modus operandi, afraid of being caught in one scam: billing too much,
or doing shitty installments of gardens, grass or palms, all they can do....
One thing is certain. IN USA/CANADA or Puerto Rico, people leading these companies have no respect for the environment, the earth, nature, ecology since
their motivation is money, the faster the better. That is why every article written
in LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT, no matter what the subject is, ends with speed and efficiency.
We will continue in upinthebreadfruittree with GRAMAS LINDAS AND american lawn, anecdotes, for the uninitiated.
martes, 10 de marzo de 2009
UNEXPECTED COMPLIMENTS EFFORT COMPENSATION and THE HALL OF FAME
ONE PRACTICES horticulture with different results, not thought before hand, besides the choosing, propagating and planting. Those activities flow naturally as time goes by. The flowers, fragrances are bonuses, so are the fruits when one does gardening with edible intentions. Often, as in my case, the eating from the effort is nule. Except for Oregano, Capsicum, Basil or Rosemary.
With ornamentals the satisfaction is visual or nasal. One irrigates, monitors, take care
of the plant, bush, tree, ground cover or climber and waits. The results are not what we
want all the time, but often.
However, there is no greater pleasure when those walking by the sidewalk, express some comment, compliment on the garden development. With ours, Tito and Don Miguel, are
frequent visitors, stopping to chat, inquire, or request a plant or seed of this or that. We comply and give away whatever is of their interest.
Today was different. Tito, inquired about taking some pictures to pick one for the package
of some soil potting mix that will hit the market soon. The candidates are the Orchid, Cosmos, Turnera diffusa/ulmifolia or Frangipanis pink/yellow. Even though I have contemplated the possibility of a calendar, this was a surprise.
Later Don Miguel commented on the health of this garden in plain view of all those walking
or driving by.. A great pleasure for yours truly. What else can a humble gardener ask for?
Now is time for the HALL OF FAME. This is a selection that I would plant anywhere in the tropics under similar conditions: a mile from the Atlantic, saline breezes, sandy soil and intense heat that gets worse in the summer. Particularly, if I had to leave the premises and
start from scratch, something that has happened four times.
With ornamentals the satisfaction is visual or nasal. One irrigates, monitors, take care
of the plant, bush, tree, ground cover or climber and waits. The results are not what we
want all the time, but often.
However, there is no greater pleasure when those walking by the sidewalk, express some comment, compliment on the garden development. With ours, Tito and Don Miguel, are
frequent visitors, stopping to chat, inquire, or request a plant or seed of this or that. We comply and give away whatever is of their interest.
Today was different. Tito, inquired about taking some pictures to pick one for the package
of some soil potting mix that will hit the market soon. The candidates are the Orchid, Cosmos, Turnera diffusa/ulmifolia or Frangipanis pink/yellow. Even though I have contemplated the possibility of a calendar, this was a surprise.
Later Don Miguel commented on the health of this garden in plain view of all those walking
or driving by.. A great pleasure for yours truly. What else can a humble gardener ask for?
Now is time for the HALL OF FAME. This is a selection that I would plant anywhere in the tropics under similar conditions: a mile from the Atlantic, saline breezes, sandy soil and intense heat that gets worse in the summer. Particularly, if I had to leave the premises and
start from scratch, something that has happened four times.
- TURNERAS diffusa, ulmifolia, tubulata
- FRANGIPANIS lutea, rubra, acutifolia
- ClITORIA terrata
- IPOMOEAS quamoclit, batata
- BURLERIA repens
- DRACAENA marginata
- MIRABILIS siciliana
- GARDENIA
- MURRAYA paniculata
- CHINESE violet
HORTICULTURAL BLOGS: EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T
Woke up this morning with the WasteManagement truck in Sagrado Corazon at five am. It is
the kind that lifts the receptacle.. Imagine the decibels, metal against metal. After that it is a little difficult going back to sleep.. I took Diva, our dog, to her ZEN out house. Down the path I smelled both Frangipanis, pink and yellow, the second is superior, monitored for diseases, check the lonely orchid with the intense pink contrasting with the flowers of the already mentioned small tree.
After the canine finished with her bodily functions, it was her chance to persecute Farrukito's cats loitering around. Later I watered the Murraya, Cuphea, Passiflora installation, monitoring again with the orange/lemon/mango trees finding that all is quiet on the north front. Which brings me to these thoughts.
There are 150 millions blogs or so. Only a million are updated within a week. When I started
this it was mostly for a keyboard practice. I started wondering when would readers may show up leaving relevant, or trivial comments after three months. A few appeared eventually, even
less got to the content of what was written.
It is natural. In a world where everyone thinks he/she is the center of the blogosphere, one
can only do his best. In our case, to propagate as no other, providing the botanical lists of
what is going on... With ocassional errors, not every thing survives or is kept once it has
grown.
Being critical comes naturally without effort. In Puerto Rico, any mentally challenged person
can start an enterprise and be sucessfull since there is no questioning as to probable results.
That is why agronomists, landscape architects, are abundant with results discussed
previously. A LANDSCAPE that looks exactly the same in the desert prairies of Guanica or the rainy forests of El Yunque. The exact same plant selection, installed in similar copied fashion from the previous idiotic design.
Some bloggers are like that, incapable of creating anything. Afraid of being ridiculed by some concepts, ideas, suggestions they stop trying. They remain the Joe Six Pack or the recent one The Plummer, of their own lives, looking for others for a reflection. Endemismotrasnochado is about setting trends. I do not visit blogs to get ideas. However, when I see a blog worthy of visiting such as , inartliesmylife, from India, it is mentioned. I think that the important thing about being original, is that one can be against the grain or inevitable, not hiding and willing to pay the consequences.
If you believe you have gotten it, send us your botanical list, your pictures. What you have
written on your own. Otherwise keep on trucking.. Readers will come one day. Until then...
the kind that lifts the receptacle.. Imagine the decibels, metal against metal. After that it is a little difficult going back to sleep.. I took Diva, our dog, to her ZEN out house. Down the path I smelled both Frangipanis, pink and yellow, the second is superior, monitored for diseases, check the lonely orchid with the intense pink contrasting with the flowers of the already mentioned small tree.
After the canine finished with her bodily functions, it was her chance to persecute Farrukito's cats loitering around. Later I watered the Murraya, Cuphea, Passiflora installation, monitoring again with the orange/lemon/mango trees finding that all is quiet on the north front. Which brings me to these thoughts.
There are 150 millions blogs or so. Only a million are updated within a week. When I started
this it was mostly for a keyboard practice. I started wondering when would readers may show up leaving relevant, or trivial comments after three months. A few appeared eventually, even
less got to the content of what was written.
It is natural. In a world where everyone thinks he/she is the center of the blogosphere, one
can only do his best. In our case, to propagate as no other, providing the botanical lists of
what is going on... With ocassional errors, not every thing survives or is kept once it has
grown.
Being critical comes naturally without effort. In Puerto Rico, any mentally challenged person
can start an enterprise and be sucessfull since there is no questioning as to probable results.
That is why agronomists, landscape architects, are abundant with results discussed
previously. A LANDSCAPE that looks exactly the same in the desert prairies of Guanica or the rainy forests of El Yunque. The exact same plant selection, installed in similar copied fashion from the previous idiotic design.
Some bloggers are like that, incapable of creating anything. Afraid of being ridiculed by some concepts, ideas, suggestions they stop trying. They remain the Joe Six Pack or the recent one The Plummer, of their own lives, looking for others for a reflection. Endemismotrasnochado is about setting trends. I do not visit blogs to get ideas. However, when I see a blog worthy of visiting such as , inartliesmylife, from India, it is mentioned. I think that the important thing about being original, is that one can be against the grain or inevitable, not hiding and willing to pay the consequences.
If you believe you have gotten it, send us your botanical list, your pictures. What you have
written on your own. Otherwise keep on trucking.. Readers will come one day. Until then...
lunes, 9 de marzo de 2009
ENDEMISMO GOES LATIN
ONE OF THOSE ways to use time unwisely is defining and debating silly, meaningless issues. For example Hispanic or Latin? As when referring to those characters
living in USA, speaking or not English. Since people who speak Spanish are not Latin, the
term I would prefer to use in my known humble perspective is HISPANIC, but I solved the little problem coining ANGLOSPANO. Those with Spanish surnames unable to speak, write, understand Spanish coherently or jeringonza.
Moving to our constant subject, Horticulture, here a list of Latin terms used in botanical nomenclature is provided. They were found in an old catalogue, www.eonseed.com. It is a simple kind without pictures, black and white with a relatively good list of seeds, mostly herbs and other edibles.
living in USA, speaking or not English. Since people who speak Spanish are not Latin, the
term I would prefer to use in my known humble perspective is HISPANIC, but I solved the little problem coining ANGLOSPANO. Those with Spanish surnames unable to speak, write, understand Spanish coherently or jeringonza.
Moving to our constant subject, Horticulture, here a list of Latin terms used in botanical nomenclature is provided. They were found in an old catalogue, www.eonseed.com. It is a simple kind without pictures, black and white with a relatively good list of seeds, mostly herbs and other edibles.
- alatus = appearing winged
- angustiflolius = narrow leaves
- barbatus = bearded
- canadensis = from the North
- caerulea = blue
- chinensis = from China
- communis = common
- glomoratus = clustered together
- hirtus or hirsutus = hairy
- incarnatus = flesh colored
- japonica = from Japan
- latifolius = broad leafed
- lutea = yellow
- macranthus = growing by the sea
- mollis = soft
- nanas = dwarf
- nudiflorus = flowers before the leaves come
- paniculatus = having flowers in a cluster
- praetensis = of meadows, growing in a meadow
- papyfera = paper like
- pictum = painted
- procumbens = flat on the ground
- reptans, repens = creeping or spreading
- rotundifolia = round leaved
- rugosus = wrinkled
- sativum = cultivated
- semperflorens = ever blooming
- sinensis = from China
- tomentous = densely wolly
- vulgaris = ordinary, common
sábado, 7 de marzo de 2009
THE GARDEN AS AS A BOUTIQUE HOTEL
FOR SOME time now it has been mentioned that a garden should be thought as part of the ecological whole, nature and our surroundings. But I remind our virtual
reader, anything at any time written in this blog is valid in an urban, outdoors garden. It is understandable, that some types of contexts are not agreeable with this rule.
The GARDEN AS A HOTEL, implies that exactly. Some organisms, insects, reptiles,
birds, visit our humble installation for short or long stays. Others just pass to
hang out, check or eat what is available during their constant traveling.
This was not easy. The Internet, or rather, people dealing with their main interests
sometimes are not willing, are unable to write and place a post that it is understandable for the lay person, nor it occurs to place a photo. Some are extremely scientific and useless for yours truly, since the fashion in which they are written committ the SIN of academic, egocentric, absurd, jargon.
I will be more adventurous. This academic writings are so absurd in their excessive minute detail, that often the result makes the object of study a silly excuse for the display of a mamout essay, paper, with a bibliography as long as Ulysses by James Joyce, and the need to satisfy the ego trip for the faculty. This I will add, can only make
us reticent to inquire within those quarters.
I am trying to present a list of reptiles and birds that inhabit my garden
with some rigourosity. It is not what I wanted, but is better than nothing and unusual. There is no one else presenting the garden as an ecological whole, ( not as an
me garden kick your's butt), as I prefer to perceive mine..
When one goes searching for urban anything: birds, reptiles, whatever, there is nothing in this regard. What is the point of presenting pictures ONLY in the rural context, if most of the people live in CITIES? What is the difficulty of taking photographs of these organisms and where most of the population resides? After all,
either they survive with/without our help, within the urban jungle dominating our scene or they will perish.
Here are some lizards the curious will search and see what they look like:
Sharp Anole- Anolis Acutus; Puerto Rican Amieva- Amieva Exsul; Crested Anole-
Anolis Cristalelus.
Birds: Greater antillean Grackle, Red legged Trush, Zenaida Dove, Puerto Rican Emerald, Green Mango (hummingbirds), and Puerto Rican spindalis.
Amphibians: None in my garden, however Puerto Ricans have elevated
their love to infatuation status regarding a little brown frog COQUI, to a star status. To such an extent that many lies were told to children in school as to this inability of the little frog to live anywhere else. JAHA, bilingual laugh!
If you search under Puerto Rican frogs nine out of ten sites pertain to this little one
hated to such levels in Hawaaii, where it arrived surely in some silly bromeliads; that
an insular scandal in that far away 50th state, became a national policy to destroy these cute brown amphibians with caffeine spray. Their crime? Their constant, coki, coki, coki squeaky calling through out the night was unbearable for those USA islanders .
Some insects have been detected, beneficial ones: Lady bugs, came at a difficult moment, when my Bean climber was attacked by all fronts, unable to stop this
epidemic with my secret soap formula, one day I noticed this cute army. The only thing they do is fornicate and eat, reproducing quickly helping to destroy the culprit.
Bees, daily visitors at all hours. Gluttons for the nectar in all my Turneras species: Ulmifolia, Diffusa and Subulata. Not so beneficial, but part of the Creation, Leaf miners, weevils, spider mites, and a few others arrive, do their thing and dissapear without much damage.
EPILOGUE BONUS : Bufo Marinus. The biggest of our frogs, probably imported to this former enchanted island, when SUGAR CANE, was KING. Brought to eat whatever was bothering this sugary grass moons ago. Since PUERTO RICO, BY THE WAY DOES NOT CULTIVATE SUGAR, there are no Puerto Rican Rums, the molasses
are imported from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Our literature has plenty of stories,novels, dramas, anecdotes of the sugar cane era, I will mention just one.
Yesterday when I was a child, there were hundreds, millions of these frogs in any possible context: urban/rural/ in betweenies, in the Puerto Rican isle.
During the last seven years I have seen 2. One in Toa Alta, one In Bayamon.
So what? Well, they eat insects like crazy...unfortunately, cement/asphalt have destroyed their habitat. NOW they are probably in the brink of extintion but silly
endemists, a la Alberto Areces Mallea destroy them, because they eat endemical
organisms! Farewell, remembering, the garden as part of the whole, not the ego, not a hundred kinds of orchids or whatever... Time to go.
reader, anything at any time written in this blog is valid in an urban, outdoors garden. It is understandable, that some types of contexts are not agreeable with this rule.
The GARDEN AS A HOTEL, implies that exactly. Some organisms, insects, reptiles,
birds, visit our humble installation for short or long stays. Others just pass to
hang out, check or eat what is available during their constant traveling.
This was not easy. The Internet, or rather, people dealing with their main interests
sometimes are not willing, are unable to write and place a post that it is understandable for the lay person, nor it occurs to place a photo. Some are extremely scientific and useless for yours truly, since the fashion in which they are written committ the SIN of academic, egocentric, absurd, jargon.
I will be more adventurous. This academic writings are so absurd in their excessive minute detail, that often the result makes the object of study a silly excuse for the display of a mamout essay, paper, with a bibliography as long as Ulysses by James Joyce, and the need to satisfy the ego trip for the faculty. This I will add, can only make
us reticent to inquire within those quarters.
I am trying to present a list of reptiles and birds that inhabit my garden
with some rigourosity. It is not what I wanted, but is better than nothing and unusual. There is no one else presenting the garden as an ecological whole, ( not as an
me garden kick your's butt), as I prefer to perceive mine..
When one goes searching for urban anything: birds, reptiles, whatever, there is nothing in this regard. What is the point of presenting pictures ONLY in the rural context, if most of the people live in CITIES? What is the difficulty of taking photographs of these organisms and where most of the population resides? After all,
either they survive with/without our help, within the urban jungle dominating our scene or they will perish.
Here are some lizards the curious will search and see what they look like:
Sharp Anole- Anolis Acutus; Puerto Rican Amieva- Amieva Exsul; Crested Anole-
Anolis Cristalelus.
Birds: Greater antillean Grackle, Red legged Trush, Zenaida Dove, Puerto Rican Emerald, Green Mango (hummingbirds), and Puerto Rican spindalis.
Amphibians: None in my garden, however Puerto Ricans have elevated
their love to infatuation status regarding a little brown frog COQUI, to a star status. To such an extent that many lies were told to children in school as to this inability of the little frog to live anywhere else. JAHA, bilingual laugh!
If you search under Puerto Rican frogs nine out of ten sites pertain to this little one
hated to such levels in Hawaaii, where it arrived surely in some silly bromeliads; that
an insular scandal in that far away 50th state, became a national policy to destroy these cute brown amphibians with caffeine spray. Their crime? Their constant, coki, coki, coki squeaky calling through out the night was unbearable for those USA islanders .
Some insects have been detected, beneficial ones: Lady bugs, came at a difficult moment, when my Bean climber was attacked by all fronts, unable to stop this
epidemic with my secret soap formula, one day I noticed this cute army. The only thing they do is fornicate and eat, reproducing quickly helping to destroy the culprit.
Bees, daily visitors at all hours. Gluttons for the nectar in all my Turneras species: Ulmifolia, Diffusa and Subulata. Not so beneficial, but part of the Creation, Leaf miners, weevils, spider mites, and a few others arrive, do their thing and dissapear without much damage.
EPILOGUE BONUS : Bufo Marinus. The biggest of our frogs, probably imported to this former enchanted island, when SUGAR CANE, was KING. Brought to eat whatever was bothering this sugary grass moons ago. Since PUERTO RICO, BY THE WAY DOES NOT CULTIVATE SUGAR, there are no Puerto Rican Rums, the molasses
are imported from DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Our literature has plenty of stories,novels, dramas, anecdotes of the sugar cane era, I will mention just one.
Yesterday when I was a child, there were hundreds, millions of these frogs in any possible context: urban/rural/ in betweenies, in the Puerto Rican isle.
During the last seven years I have seen 2. One in Toa Alta, one In Bayamon.
So what? Well, they eat insects like crazy...unfortunately, cement/asphalt have destroyed their habitat. NOW they are probably in the brink of extintion but silly
endemists, a la Alberto Areces Mallea destroy them, because they eat endemical
organisms! Farewell, remembering, the garden as part of the whole, not the ego, not a hundred kinds of orchids or whatever... Time to go.
miércoles, 4 de marzo de 2009
IT IS TIME TO REJOICE and SMELL THE FRANGIPANIS
REJOICE, that is something seldom mentioned here, since our vocation is being critical. But once in a while one wakes up, goes monitoring through the garden and discovers the first orchid in our three decades of gardening, opened. I have to confess some sentimental feeling of happiness came briefly. This is a pink flower.
This orchid has taken root in a branch of my pink Frangipani also in the blooming mood, with the yellow Frangipani following. Smelling, judging a fragrance is sort of a trip. I have decided this yellow variety is very similar to a cut opened peach. Meanwhile the white Frangipani
refuses to follow his mates. Even though they are all in similar soil, ground; except for the pink
in a big rubber/plastic pot with a Barleria repens as a mantle enhancing its beauty.
The good news do not stop there. A Turnera diffusa, or Damiana for the people, is also in the mood. This bush originally from Mexico, was propagated in water, from three stems cuttings brought
from Toa Alta, some hick town, not too far from here. Out of the 3, this one survived, looking strong and healthy. Unlike the above mentioned, yesterday there were no signs of
flower buds.
Last but not least, flowering profusely is the Valencia Orange grafted tree. For the lay person,
plenty of oranges judging from the amount of flowers. But that is in the long run, right now,
these flowers have their beauty and intense fragrance, reminds one of Gardenias. Since we
are in the orchard paragraph, Lemon and Mango are also in this group, but no flowering signs yet. The last one has been so lazy, that has refused to shed or shoot leaves.
In a mood of rejoice, we go. Until next..
This orchid has taken root in a branch of my pink Frangipani also in the blooming mood, with the yellow Frangipani following. Smelling, judging a fragrance is sort of a trip. I have decided this yellow variety is very similar to a cut opened peach. Meanwhile the white Frangipani
refuses to follow his mates. Even though they are all in similar soil, ground; except for the pink
in a big rubber/plastic pot with a Barleria repens as a mantle enhancing its beauty.
The good news do not stop there. A Turnera diffusa, or Damiana for the people, is also in the mood. This bush originally from Mexico, was propagated in water, from three stems cuttings brought
from Toa Alta, some hick town, not too far from here. Out of the 3, this one survived, looking strong and healthy. Unlike the above mentioned, yesterday there were no signs of
flower buds.
Last but not least, flowering profusely is the Valencia Orange grafted tree. For the lay person,
plenty of oranges judging from the amount of flowers. But that is in the long run, right now,
these flowers have their beauty and intense fragrance, reminds one of Gardenias. Since we
are in the orchard paragraph, Lemon and Mango are also in this group, but no flowering signs yet. The last one has been so lazy, that has refused to shed or shoot leaves.
In a mood of rejoice, we go. Until next..
martes, 3 de marzo de 2009
RENOVATING THE SOUL AND TRAVELING THROUGH OTHER GARDENS IN THE WORLD
IT IS DIFFICULT, to have critical views in a land where stealing, fraud, complacency,
in many segments of the society, politicians, protestant ministers, doctors, lawyers, bankers decide to get rich quickly with someone else's money. A few,
get caught thanks
to Federal authorities, doing their job against some cat skinners resenting the presence of USA in Puerto Rico.
However, gardening is the subject of this blog, horticulture, and difficult to exclude,
ecology, environment issues that should be kept in focus when planting, installing a garden on one hand. The other is avoiding/eliminating the destruction of this same
environment we are trying to protect, to improve while using noisy, polluting lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers and insecticides.
If one follows with consistency those beliefs being preached, GOLF, is out of the question. There is no other tendency in landscaping design more destructive to
the environment than golf courses. Think only of the waste of water through irrigation, the chemicals and machines used to keep the turf playable.
However, not everything is lost. To keep the mental sanity without any jerk humortivator, or coach, or astrologer, one should visit blogs with something to
say, with their own voice. Even if we strongly disagree with essential matters or the
trivial such as writing style, poetry, celestial perspectives and such.
One of my frequently visited blogs is in India, inartliesmyheart.blogspot.com, a great
discovery three weeks ago. Many of the plants in the author collection are also in mine. But that is only one reason to follow. There are also botanical names, excellent photography.
From New York State, there is colorsofthegarden.blogspot.com, another great one with stories, anecdotes of gardening and cats for example.
In Puerto Rico, a rare not often updated blog, birdsbackyard.blogspot.com. This character is from a place called Barceloneta, also a vecinity in Barcelona, Spain.
Birds that we see, know but either we do not know the botanical names or the vulgar one. Contrary to the Ornithological Society fellows, somewhat stiff and unable to spread the knowledge to the masses, this blog is simple, with nice pictures.
Australia has more than one excellent blog, now this will suffice, gardenamateur.blogspot.com. Many well known trees used in Puerto Rico and other places in the world come from this island/continent. But we are not getting into that matter. An excellent article about Murrayas paniculatas, is there to enjoy. This small tree was very popular in most garden installations in this territory of the USA.
For some reason, we imagine having to do with money, fast growing issues, nurseries stop selling them, being substituted with FICUS BENJAMINA for hedges and topiaries. One can only guess the IQ of any person planting this monster of a tree with such silly purposes. A tree that can grow a thousand feet in spread!
That is that. When tired of one's dull surroundings in garden installations in the Metro Zone in San Juan, either you take a drive well planned as written before or
visit these blogs and those they recommend. You will feel some fresh air, just looking
at some pictures or reading blogs better written than this one.
in many segments of the society, politicians, protestant ministers, doctors, lawyers, bankers decide to get rich quickly with someone else's money. A few,
get caught thanks
to Federal authorities, doing their job against some cat skinners resenting the presence of USA in Puerto Rico.
However, gardening is the subject of this blog, horticulture, and difficult to exclude,
ecology, environment issues that should be kept in focus when planting, installing a garden on one hand. The other is avoiding/eliminating the destruction of this same
environment we are trying to protect, to improve while using noisy, polluting lawn mowers, blowers, trimmers, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers and insecticides.
If one follows with consistency those beliefs being preached, GOLF, is out of the question. There is no other tendency in landscaping design more destructive to
the environment than golf courses. Think only of the waste of water through irrigation, the chemicals and machines used to keep the turf playable.
However, not everything is lost. To keep the mental sanity without any jerk humortivator, or coach, or astrologer, one should visit blogs with something to
say, with their own voice. Even if we strongly disagree with essential matters or the
trivial such as writing style, poetry, celestial perspectives and such.
One of my frequently visited blogs is in India, inartliesmyheart.blogspot.com, a great
discovery three weeks ago. Many of the plants in the author collection are also in mine. But that is only one reason to follow. There are also botanical names, excellent photography.
From New York State, there is colorsofthegarden.blogspot.com, another great one with stories, anecdotes of gardening and cats for example.
In Puerto Rico, a rare not often updated blog, birdsbackyard.blogspot.com. This character is from a place called Barceloneta, also a vecinity in Barcelona, Spain.
Birds that we see, know but either we do not know the botanical names or the vulgar one. Contrary to the Ornithological Society fellows, somewhat stiff and unable to spread the knowledge to the masses, this blog is simple, with nice pictures.
Australia has more than one excellent blog, now this will suffice, gardenamateur.blogspot.com. Many well known trees used in Puerto Rico and other places in the world come from this island/continent. But we are not getting into that matter. An excellent article about Murrayas paniculatas, is there to enjoy. This small tree was very popular in most garden installations in this territory of the USA.
For some reason, we imagine having to do with money, fast growing issues, nurseries stop selling them, being substituted with FICUS BENJAMINA for hedges and topiaries. One can only guess the IQ of any person planting this monster of a tree with such silly purposes. A tree that can grow a thousand feet in spread!
That is that. When tired of one's dull surroundings in garden installations in the Metro Zone in San Juan, either you take a drive well planned as written before or
visit these blogs and those they recommend. You will feel some fresh air, just looking
at some pictures or reading blogs better written than this one.
EVERYBODY DECIDED TO FLOWER and THE BLOG STALKER
AFTER A COUPLE of hours of soil drenching, spraying in the garden, some flower buds were noticed coming out after a long period of hiding, dormancy, in the tropics. Perhaps the most significant is the orchid, white said Don Miguel, when asked about the color.
This orchid was immortalized in an older post: 'Don Miguel and The Lonely Orchid'. It is not white, but pink... While I write I listen to some Musica Nortenha, lots of brass, with a weird beat, reminding us of SKA, that is why I listen to it.
Back to the studio...The other flowering small trees are the pink and yellow Frangipanis. The first was a present, bought in a shitty nursery. The second was propagated from a tree destroyed in Ashford Avenue, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
I am certainly proud of everything I have propagated, from stems, seeds, or division.
Particularly if no one else has it. That is my kick, forgive me if seemingly obssesive.
Of the identified 96 species posted here previously, 80 or more were not bought in the pathetic nurseries in Puerto Rico. This would help as the second part of todays
tittle.
If you go to ANY nursery in Puerto Rico and ask about the name of many things, the answer will be, if known the local, vulgar name. If you ask the owner how many species there are in his local, the response is Uf, a lot...
Our stalker, I do not know if he is in love with yours truly, visits this blog too often. Always leaving some
meaningless message/comment as to our state of mind, being too critical, unprofessional, this guy apparently an agronomist, a small time entrepeneur is in constant whining without direction.
I reiterate. A blog is my own. I tell is as it is. As I perceive it. With criteria, credentials,
96 species, college degree, NY Botanical Garden Certificate. If the pathetic situation regarding landscape management, nurseries, missing aesthetics in garden installations by agronomists/landscape architects are not of your liking, sorry,
take the long walk on the short deck. Good luck with the theoretical frames expressed. The guy in Los Verdes, Aula Verde, Oro Verde all in the same bag.
Without any intelligent people around with credentials all become water and salt.
This blog exists thanks to our national stupidity and those proud of it. Taunting the flag at any chance. Send some pictures of any garden public/private in Puerto Rico that shows some consideration to aesthetics. Or the address., where I could go and observe. Or a decent nursery with real options and botanical names. Until next.
Or lator alligator...
This orchid was immortalized in an older post: 'Don Miguel and The Lonely Orchid'. It is not white, but pink... While I write I listen to some Musica Nortenha, lots of brass, with a weird beat, reminding us of SKA, that is why I listen to it.
Back to the studio...The other flowering small trees are the pink and yellow Frangipanis. The first was a present, bought in a shitty nursery. The second was propagated from a tree destroyed in Ashford Avenue, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
I am certainly proud of everything I have propagated, from stems, seeds, or division.
Particularly if no one else has it. That is my kick, forgive me if seemingly obssesive.
Of the identified 96 species posted here previously, 80 or more were not bought in the pathetic nurseries in Puerto Rico. This would help as the second part of todays
tittle.
If you go to ANY nursery in Puerto Rico and ask about the name of many things, the answer will be, if known the local, vulgar name. If you ask the owner how many species there are in his local, the response is Uf, a lot...
Our stalker, I do not know if he is in love with yours truly, visits this blog too often. Always leaving some
meaningless message/comment as to our state of mind, being too critical, unprofessional, this guy apparently an agronomist, a small time entrepeneur is in constant whining without direction.
I reiterate. A blog is my own. I tell is as it is. As I perceive it. With criteria, credentials,
96 species, college degree, NY Botanical Garden Certificate. If the pathetic situation regarding landscape management, nurseries, missing aesthetics in garden installations by agronomists/landscape architects are not of your liking, sorry,
take the long walk on the short deck. Good luck with the theoretical frames expressed. The guy in Los Verdes, Aula Verde, Oro Verde all in the same bag.
Without any intelligent people around with credentials all become water and salt.
This blog exists thanks to our national stupidity and those proud of it. Taunting the flag at any chance. Send some pictures of any garden public/private in Puerto Rico that shows some consideration to aesthetics. Or the address., where I could go and observe. Or a decent nursery with real options and botanical names. Until next.
Or lator alligator...
lunes, 2 de marzo de 2009
REFRIED HIPPIES and EDIBLE GARDENING TENDENCIES IN PUERTO RICO
I KNOW IT IS A LONG TITTLE, but there is no other way to describe it, briefly. The story is as follows. I visit many blogs. When I find one weird, no good, or excellent,
I check out their favorite blogs or those they follow.
Out of every fifty, one is amazing
from our critical, sick perspective, as one dear reader put it bluntly, in other words.
Perhaps it is true and I could search for help. But where? Who is going to pay for it?
Who will know something about plants, enough to debate and then get into the therapy? Or should it be a coach or guru?
There are a couple of interesting issues regarding these good organic and natural hippies. Some will offer workshops to start your own edible garden 'teaching' the
customer all those chores related to preparing soil, planting, weeding and compost. To name a few.
The most guru/Pachamama like, may include yoga, meditation irrigation in your garden or your colon. Everything is natural and healthy. To get there, one of this huertos caseros, far away, in some Puerto Rico neck of the woods, it is necessary to request map/directions, only given by email.
They make an offer you can not refuse. The celestial, chance of working under the sun/heat for X amount of hours and receive lunch! Not a beer, Shyraz or Merlot, or a shot of Palo Viejo or my
favorite Balveine, to relax and enjoy the scenery under the shade of some Pithelobium dulce or their favorites, probably endemic ones.
So what is wrong with this picture? The cost is one. It is not free. The other is physical conditionn(yours!). Last but not least, irrigation. Starting from the end.
If you do not keep a serious irrigation system all you have planted with the yoga,
yogurt and organic dieting extras will pass away, believe me! Just one day missed
will screw up the plants by stress! Most will, some will survive.
If you are over fifty. Your knees, back, shoulders, hands will suffer. Get some nice,
not necessarily expensive gloves, a seat or good cushion for knees or both. I garden
with nice elegant hats when under heat/sun and long sleeves. Nice looking shorts.
One does not have to look like many gardeners for hire in Puerto Rico. BUMS with shirts too big, rags on their heads a la ARAB for protection from the intense sun.
In essence, clothing with faded colors, worn out by the sun and washing.
So there. My critical view of gardening elegantly. NO suggestions on what to buy.
Use your imagination with your budget in context. Look elegant, think of your stamina, energy and disposition. If you and your wife work outside, plan ahead
regarding caring for the garden. If you have children/pets be human, do not keep
them away from the garden all the time, they will certainly enjoy it too!
It does not matter if plants get trampled while they play, supervise, that is that!
If you can follow, seeing what is behind, I helped you save you $120.00 or $100.00.
Depending on your virtual selection. Happy gardening. Remember to set trends,
not just following.
I check out their favorite blogs or those they follow.
Out of every fifty, one is amazing
from our critical, sick perspective, as one dear reader put it bluntly, in other words.
Perhaps it is true and I could search for help. But where? Who is going to pay for it?
Who will know something about plants, enough to debate and then get into the therapy? Or should it be a coach or guru?
There are a couple of interesting issues regarding these good organic and natural hippies. Some will offer workshops to start your own edible garden 'teaching' the
customer all those chores related to preparing soil, planting, weeding and compost. To name a few.
The most guru/Pachamama like, may include yoga, meditation irrigation in your garden or your colon. Everything is natural and healthy. To get there, one of this huertos caseros, far away, in some Puerto Rico neck of the woods, it is necessary to request map/directions, only given by email.
They make an offer you can not refuse. The celestial, chance of working under the sun/heat for X amount of hours and receive lunch! Not a beer, Shyraz or Merlot, or a shot of Palo Viejo or my
favorite Balveine, to relax and enjoy the scenery under the shade of some Pithelobium dulce or their favorites, probably endemic ones.
So what is wrong with this picture? The cost is one. It is not free. The other is physical conditionn(yours!). Last but not least, irrigation. Starting from the end.
If you do not keep a serious irrigation system all you have planted with the yoga,
yogurt and organic dieting extras will pass away, believe me! Just one day missed
will screw up the plants by stress! Most will, some will survive.
If you are over fifty. Your knees, back, shoulders, hands will suffer. Get some nice,
not necessarily expensive gloves, a seat or good cushion for knees or both. I garden
with nice elegant hats when under heat/sun and long sleeves. Nice looking shorts.
One does not have to look like many gardeners for hire in Puerto Rico. BUMS with shirts too big, rags on their heads a la ARAB for protection from the intense sun.
In essence, clothing with faded colors, worn out by the sun and washing.
So there. My critical view of gardening elegantly. NO suggestions on what to buy.
Use your imagination with your budget in context. Look elegant, think of your stamina, energy and disposition. If you and your wife work outside, plan ahead
regarding caring for the garden. If you have children/pets be human, do not keep
them away from the garden all the time, they will certainly enjoy it too!
It does not matter if plants get trampled while they play, supervise, that is that!
If you can follow, seeing what is behind, I helped you save you $120.00 or $100.00.
Depending on your virtual selection. Happy gardening. Remember to set trends,
not just following.
domingo, 1 de marzo de 2009
AWAY FROM SANTURCE TO ROUTE 15 CAYEY JAJOME GUAYAMA
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I decide with great effort to leave the house. It is difficult since I have to leave my botanical, canine constant company. One has to plan carefully before engaging in such projects for a simple reason, this is an overcrowded, noisy, with a ridiculous vehicle density, island. Imagine over two million vehicles in a one hundred miles long and thirty five miles wide, shitty isle.
Oh, excuse me please, I remind you virtual READER, this is not a traveling guide blog, singing to our cultural, social, historical,
gastronomical values.
This a critical blog... At any rate, taking the old road to Caguas or #1, you reach the highway to Cayey making a right turn when the Cayey to Guayama sign drops by.
Be careful, you need Route #15, through Jajome. If you make a mistake, you will land
in a horrible traffic jam towards the road to Guavate, that only local gluttons for roasted pig, longaniza, rice with pigeon peas, heavy drinking, motorcycle freaks,
and noisy families with children tolerate with resignation. I do not.
While on the road you will enjoy the possibility of driving with the windows down since the high altitude allows the cool fresh air cool your jets. Another great ecoturististic advantage of travelling this almost ghost road, is listening to the many birds hanging out in heir backyard trees, without urban decay, construction/desctruction.
Poinciana trees are abundant and happy. They prefer dry, coarse soils with good drainage soils. One very rare, Black eye Susan was spotted across what certainly was a country
hotel with an impressive view of the mointains. Now somewhat abandoned, this structure demonstrates the feeling for detail in the architecture, even today, with some parts of rotted ceiling showing, the beauty is amazing.
From this hotel I was able to collect a root of a rare Bambusa. This type grows about two inches in diameter and fifteen feet high. If invasive or not, time will tell. Bamboo
perhaps one of the most interesting grasses there is to create a curtain of privacy. However if you plant the wrong one... Good luck.
Other collected items were an endemic Anthurium, rather ugly, with thick leaves found in a small, typical landslide of the mountain in the right side of the road.
Finally, seeds from a Mexican climber, Coral vine, very abundant throught out this road came home to be planted among the many others in the drive way pots.
Finally again, this road with many smooth curves, is in excellent shape to enjoy
the trip. You will pass in front of the summer house of our governor, a unique
structure with definite Spanish motifs in the architecture. There are views of mountains covered with old trees, something that will not last forever, plus many views of the Caribbean Sea and Arroyo, a town, close by from Guayama, itself a great
place to walk around and calm the thirst.
Until our next meeting...
Oh, excuse me please, I remind you virtual READER, this is not a traveling guide blog, singing to our cultural, social, historical,
gastronomical values.
This a critical blog... At any rate, taking the old road to Caguas or #1, you reach the highway to Cayey making a right turn when the Cayey to Guayama sign drops by.
Be careful, you need Route #15, through Jajome. If you make a mistake, you will land
in a horrible traffic jam towards the road to Guavate, that only local gluttons for roasted pig, longaniza, rice with pigeon peas, heavy drinking, motorcycle freaks,
and noisy families with children tolerate with resignation. I do not.
While on the road you will enjoy the possibility of driving with the windows down since the high altitude allows the cool fresh air cool your jets. Another great ecoturististic advantage of travelling this almost ghost road, is listening to the many birds hanging out in heir backyard trees, without urban decay, construction/desctruction.
Poinciana trees are abundant and happy. They prefer dry, coarse soils with good drainage soils. One very rare, Black eye Susan was spotted across what certainly was a country
hotel with an impressive view of the mointains. Now somewhat abandoned, this structure demonstrates the feeling for detail in the architecture, even today, with some parts of rotted ceiling showing, the beauty is amazing.
From this hotel I was able to collect a root of a rare Bambusa. This type grows about two inches in diameter and fifteen feet high. If invasive or not, time will tell. Bamboo
perhaps one of the most interesting grasses there is to create a curtain of privacy. However if you plant the wrong one... Good luck.
Other collected items were an endemic Anthurium, rather ugly, with thick leaves found in a small, typical landslide of the mountain in the right side of the road.
Finally, seeds from a Mexican climber, Coral vine, very abundant throught out this road came home to be planted among the many others in the drive way pots.
Finally again, this road with many smooth curves, is in excellent shape to enjoy
the trip. You will pass in front of the summer house of our governor, a unique
structure with definite Spanish motifs in the architecture. There are views of mountains covered with old trees, something that will not last forever, plus many views of the Caribbean Sea and Arroyo, a town, close by from Guayama, itself a great
place to walk around and calm the thirst.
Until our next meeting...
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